Customer Reviews

Belles on Their Toes

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Delightful sequel to Cheaper By The Dozen, Belles on Their Toes, follows the adventures of the Gilbreth family following the death of father Frank (Clifton Webb). Struggling to keep the family together, mother Lillian (Myrna Loy) continues the pioneering work in industrial engineering she started with her husband. Eldest daughter Ann (Jeanne Crain) has struggles of her own. Does she go off to college and pursue a life of her own, or stay home to help her mother with domestic matters, no small task since Ann is one of twelve children! The cast is very appealing and although they seem too good to be true at times, it's hard not to be drawn into this heartwarming comedy. Most of the cast from Cheaper repeats their roles in Belles, with the addition of a young Jeffrey Hunter and veteran character actor Edward Arnold. Also in the cast, a young Debra Paget (as third daugher Martha), and an unbilled Martin Milner as an "unsuitable" boyfriend for Ernestine (Barbara Bates). The Technicolor print for this film is superior to Cheaper By The Dozen, which is a plus. The color looks new and vibrant and it will add to the overall positive experience of viewing this film. As sequels go, Belles is pleasant and enjoyable family entertainment.

There's an undeniable sweetness and charm to this film, but overall it just doesn't feel as satisfying and well-developed as the movie version of CBTD. That movie wasn't entirely true to every bit of the book, but it overwhelmingly felt close to the book's spirit despite some things that were left out and some things that were invented. In BOTT, the viewer doesn't get nearly as much a sense of period authenticity and details as in the original; it looks more like something from the Fifties instead of a story taking place in the Twenties. And there were a lot of events from the book left out, commingled with a few things that did really happen in the book; the storyline definitely had far more liberties taken with it. Missing all of these important events that really set the mood for how much this family cared for one another and what a great job they did getting by on their own, one doesn't really feel quite as connected to the characters and the plot as in the original. (It was also interesting to note how they cut and pasted two different but similar events from the first and second books, the film of the family eating dinner at something like ten times the normal speed as opposed to the film of Mrs. Gilbreth demonstrating how time-saving the design of her kitchen was.) The book focuses on Mrs. Gilbreth's struggle to raise her eleven children after her husband dies and how she steps into his shoes, even though she was a female engineer in a man's world at a time when many female professionals weren't taken seriously; in real life she was a lot more successful and welcomed than the movie makes her out to be. It's enjoyable enough family entertainment, just lacks the continuity and even pacing of the original. Because of all of the things that were left out and substituted for by things invented (perhaps to give it a more modern feel, like the scene of the beach barbeque/dance party), it just doesn't flow as naturally or seem quite as engaging.

This movie, and its predecessor, Cheaper by the Dozen, are wonderful movies. I was so excited to find out they are coming out on DVD! Wonderful movies the whole family can enjoy. No worrying about what kind of things your children will see in this movie! It is a charming tale. Funny and sweet. A definate must have!!!!

Few realize today that the "Cheaper by the Dozen" films with Steve Martin were actually sequels themselves. If you've seen the orignal Cheaper by the Dozen with Myrna Loy than you know that Steve Martin's version didn't even attempt at staying close to the original storyline. With that said, Belles on their Toes is a totally and completely different movie than the 2nd movie in Steve Martin's Cheaper by the dozen films. In Belles on their Toes, we're treated to a story of how the 12 kids grew through the baby graduating. This is a nice story and thoroughly enjoyable as a film in itself. The fact that it's a sequel, in my opinion, doesn't add or detract from it's enjoyment factor.

Old values. Wonderful performances by Jeffrey Hunter ("The Searchers") and Jeanne Craine (an original from "Cheaper by the Dozen").

This was a very pleasant and enjoyable movie and the picture quality was sharp and bright but the people and objects seemed to have a blue shadow around them and the sound was lousy. It was like listening through a tin can.
I wish the studios would release more of Jeffery Hunter's films such as "Man Trap" with Stella Stevens if it even still exists somewhere or "Brainstorm" with Anne Francis.

"Belles on Their Toes" is an excellent sequel to "Cheaper by the Dozen"
"Belles on Their Toes" picks up where the Gilbreth family left off in "Cheaper by the Dozen." While many sequels leave much to be desired this sequel is even better than the predecessor. In this movie the mother, Lillian, continues pioneering work in industrial engineering.

A perfect film for the entire family to watch, you won't find any sex, violence or foul language in this movie. The hilarious goings-on of this real-life family will keep your entire family laughing in wanting to know more about this interesting real-life cast of characters. While this film can be purchased in both Technicolor and black-and-white I still prefer the black-and-white version.

This classic movie teaches old-time values and will send your family straits the Internet to find out more about their fascinating lives.

We liked this movie, although I would have liked for it to have included more of what is in the book. Hard to do in a short amount of time. Overall a great family movie! We love the old fashioned movies!

This is a great classic movie,hopefully more of these never before classic movies will be released for the first time on dvd!!

This is a fun and light-hearted family film that was filmed in the fifties and set in the twenties. It can almost be considered a musical as there is much singing and dancing in it. Including a very neat Shag dance scene. The story centers around a widowed Mother trying to keep her large family together. While facing the male-dominated work force of engineering. She encounters lots of hurdles. But, all in all, she is able to do it. And very admirably so. My Mother thought the movie was borderline silly, but I really liked it. Underneath the light-heartedness there are the deeper issues of keeping family together. I recommend it!