Cheaper by the Dozen

Director: Walter Lang

A well-dressed lady arrives at the residence of the Gilbreth family in Montclair, New Jersey. Someone she had met on the train told her to look up the Gilbreths, because they would be most interested in hearing about the good work her organization does. ( The organization was early 20th century Planned Parenthood.) “I have to call my husband,” says Mrs. Gilbreth (Myrna Loy) with a twinkle in her eye that the lady misses. “He’s interested in good works too.” Mr. Gilbreth (Clifton Webb) is busy in his study — he’s what you’d call a workplace engineer, an efficiency expert dealing with time and motion. But when his wife tells him who’s at the door, he sets down his scope and gets up, like a good-humored moral crusader. Imagine the lady’s horror when, at the base of their large staircase, Mr. Gilbreth whistles, takes out his stopwatch, and waits no more than 14 seconds as his twelve children come barreling downstairs, one of the boys sliding backwards down the banister. “Why, the…