''Belles on Their Toes'' is a 1952 American
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
based on the autobiographical book ''
Belles on Their Toes
''Belles on Their Toes'' is a 1950 autobiographical book written by the siblings Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. It is the follow-up to their book ''Cheaper by the Dozen'' (1948), which covered the period after Frank Gil ...
'' (1950) by siblings
Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr.
Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. (March 17, 1911 – February 18, 2001) was an American journalist and author. He co-authored, with his sister Ernestine, the autobiographical bestsellers ''Cheaper by the Dozen'' (1948; which was adapted as a 195 ...
and
Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Ernestine Moller Gilbreth, Mrs. Carey (April 5, 1908 – November 4, 2006) was an American writer.
Early life and education
Ernestine Moller Gilbreth was born in New York City on April 5, 1908. She was the daughter of Frank B. and Lillian ...
. The film, which debuted in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
on May 2, 1952, was directed by
Henry Levin, and
Henry Ephron
Henry Ephron (May 26, 1911 – September 6, 1992) was an American playwright, screenwriter and film producer who often worked with his wife, Phoebe (née Wolkind). He was active as a writer from the early 1940s through the early 1960s.
Ea ...
and
Phoebe Ephron
Phoebe Ephron (née Wolkind; January 26, 1914 – October 13, 1971) was an American playwright and screenwriter, who often worked with Henry Ephron, her husband, whom she wed in 1934.
Ephron was born in New York City to Louis and Kate (née ...
wrote the screenplay. It is a sequel to the film ''
Cheaper by the Dozen
''Cheaper by the Dozen'' is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948. The novel recounts the authors' childhood lives growing up in a household of 12 children. The bestsell ...
'' (1950), based on Gilbreth and Carey's
eponymous 1948 book.
Synopsis
''Belles on Their Toes'' recounts the story of the Gilbreth family after the death of efficiency expert
Frank Gilbreth
Frank Bunker Gilbreth (July 7, 1868 – June 14, 1924) was an American engineer, consultant, and author known as an early advocate of scientific management and a pioneer of time and motion study, and is perhaps best known as the father and ce ...
Sr., husband of
Dr. Lillian Gilbreth and father to twelve children. It tells of Lillian Gilbreth's lecture work, and her finding romance while caring for her growing children.
[Maltin, Leonard, TV Movies and Video Guide, 1991 Edition, page 82, Plume, 1990]
Cast
*
Myrna Loy
Myrna Loy (born Myrna Adele Williams; August 2, 1905 – December 14, 1993) was an American film, television and stage actress. Trained as a dancer, Loy devoted herself fully to an acting career following a few minor roles in silent films. ...
as
Dr. Lillian M. Gilbreth
*
Jeanne Crain
Jeanne Elizabeth Crain (May 25, 1925 – December 14, 2003) was an American actress. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her title role in '' Pinky'' (1949). She also starred in the films ''In the Meantime, Darling'' (1944 ...
as Anne Gilbreth
*
Barbara Bates
Barbara Jane Bates (August 6, 1925 – March 18, 1969) was an American singer and actress, best known for her portrayal of Phoebe in the 1950 drama film ''All About Eve''. and as Katy Morgan on '' It's a Great Life'' (1954–1956).
Early life ...
as
Ernestine Gilbreth
*
Debra Paget
Debra Paget (born Debralee Griffin; August 19, 1933) is an American actress and entertainer. She is perhaps best known for her performances in Cecil B. DeMille's epic ''The Ten Commandments'' (1956) and in Elvis Presley's film debut, '' Love Me ...
as Martha Gilbreth
*
Robert Arthur as
Frank Gilbreth
Frank Bunker Gilbreth (July 7, 1868 – June 14, 1924) was an American engineer, consultant, and author known as an early advocate of scientific management and a pioneer of time and motion study, and is perhaps best known as the father and ce ...
*
Carol Nugent
Carol Lou Nugent (born July 7, 1937) is an American actress who began her career as a child. Nugent appeared in over 20 feature films and 11 television programs during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Her 1959 marriage to actor Nick Adams ended with ...
as Lillie Gilbreth
*
Tommy Ivo
Tommy may refer to:
People
* Tommy (given name)
* Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film
* ''Tommy'' (1975 fi ...
as William Gilbreth
*
Jimmy Hunt
James Walter Hunt (born December 4, 1939) is an American actor.. He is perhaps best known for his role as David in '' Invaders from Mars'' (1953). In the 1986 remake of the same film he plays the police chief.
Hunt has also appeared in films l ...
as Fred Gilbreth
*
Anthony Sydes
Thomas Anthony Sydes (May 4, 1941 – June 20, 2015) was an American child actor on film and television.
Biography
Sydes was born May 4, 1941, in North Hollywood, California. He was the son of Thomas and Ruth Sydes, and he had a brother, Jonath ...
as Dan Gilbreth
* Teddy Driver as Jack Gilbreth
* Tina Thompson as Jane Gilbreth
*
Jeffrey Hunter
Jeffrey Hunter (born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.; November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was an American film and television actor and producer known for his roles in films such as ''The Searchers'' and ''King of Kings (1961 film), King of Kin ...
as Dr. Bob Grayson
*
Edward Arnold as Sam Harper
*
Hoagy Carmichael
Hoagland Howard Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s, and was among the first ...
as Thomas George Bracken
*
Martin Milner
Martin Sam Milner (December 28, 1931 – September 6, 2015) was an American actor and radio host. He is best known for his performances on two television series: ''Route 66'', which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964, and ''Adam-12'', which ai ...
as Al Lynch
*
Verna Felton
Verna Arline Felton (July 20, 1890December 14, 1966) was an American actress, best known for providing many voices in numerous Disney animated films.
She also provided the voice for Fred Flintstone's mother-in-law, Pearl Slaghoople in Hanna-Bar ...
as Cousin Leora
Comparison to real life
This film is more true to the story than is the first film, ''
Cheaper by the Dozen
''Cheaper by the Dozen'' is a semi-autobiographical novel written by Frank Bunker Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, published in 1948. The novel recounts the authors' childhood lives growing up in a household of 12 children. The bestsell ...
'' (1950). Only the 11 living children are featured, and Jane is accurately portrayed as the youngest after Robert. However, the real surname of Anne's future husband was Robert Barney, which is changed to Grayson in the film.
References
External links
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1952 films
20th Century Fox films
American comedy-drama films
American sequel films
1950s English-language films
Films about families
Films based on autobiographies
Films directed by Henry Levin
Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge
Films set in the 1920s
Films set in New Jersey
1952 comedy-drama films
American children's comedy films
1950s American films
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