# Crappier By the Dozen **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 26, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288 "2003-11-26T01:13:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/1 "2003-11-26T01:13:57Z")
Just saw a promo for the remake of _Cheaper by the Dozen_, with Steve Martin. Oy. Those of you who’ve read the book and saw the original movie remember it’s a (true) heart-warming but rather dark and acerbic tale of the 12 children of an efficiency expert and his wife. Not always happy, though nostalgic. The new movie? It’s _wacky!_ It’s a goofy, slapstick story of Mom going out of town, the kids going nuts and silly, idiotic Dad falls apart and can’t handle things–_in a wacky way!_ I repeat, \*Oy. \* ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/2 "2003-11-26T01:38:21Z")
The only saving grace I can think of is that it’s Steve Martin. I recall that previews didn’t do _Bowfinger_ any justice, frankly. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/3 "2003-11-26T02:06:12Z")
I went over to IMDB and found a link to the trailer. That’s just wrong. Very wrong. It’s as if they tried to take it and update a story that actually works well without being updated. I’ll just stick with my copy of the book, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Fiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e274bd/32.png) [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/4 "2003-11-26T02:27:21Z")
The original starred Clifton Webb, and it was a tear-jerker: the dad died at the end I bet neither will be true of the remake. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/5 "2003-11-26T02:50:40Z")
From what I’ve been lead to believe, it’s not based on the book. They’re merely using the same title, god only knows why. I’m actually looking forward to it, but I never claimed to have good taste in movies. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/6 "2003-11-26T03:18:27Z")
Well, the ad says (in very small type) that it’s based on the Gilbreth book . . . Based so loosely it rattles . . . ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/7 "2003-11-26T03:26:33Z")
Don’t worry, **Eve**. This can’t be any worst than the film in which Gwen Stefani plays Jean Harlow. _**[Editor’s Note: Shortly after posting this message, Governor Quinn was trampled in a freak stampede caused by the rage of Eve.]**_ ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/8 "2003-11-26T03:39:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eve \* > \*\*… > > The new movie? It’s _wacky!_ It’s a goofy, slapstick story of Mom going out of town, the kids going nuts and silly, idiotic Dad falls apart and can’t handle things–_in a wacky way!_…\*\* Sounds like _Mr. Mom_ by way of _Daddy Day Care_. I think I’ll pass. I also have fond memories of the book (I think there was actually a few books, but I only read the first). I didn’t think much of the Clifton Webb version, though. The father was portrayed not at all as I pictured him. ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/9 "2003-11-26T04:22:18Z")
There was a second book. Something about Toes in the title, I think. Bells on their Toes? I’ll give this one a pass. I’m not having a cherished childhood book ruined by the crap that is Steve Martin (as of late). ---
**Author:** ![Torgo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@Torgo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torgo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/10 "2003-11-26T04:24:13Z")
Sorry for the hijack… So it won’t be just like the book. Big deal. Why is it necessary for a film to be faithful to the book it’s based on? I can think of two examples, **One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest** and **The Shining** , that veered significantly from their source material yet turned out to be fine films. I’m sure there are more examples. End hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Xander\_Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ce73a5/32.png) [@Xander\_Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xander_Cane)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/11 "2003-11-26T04:48:53Z")
I saw Elf today (not by choice) and I saw the trailer. Hilary Duff is in it! That means two things: 1. Utter utter crap of a movie and 2. Lots of teen/tweens will see it, meaning big money. The hot guy from smallville is in it, so I am not complaining on that part. He can’t act though, so that might be a problem… ---
**Author:** ![CadburyAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@CadburyAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CadburyAngel)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/12 "2003-11-26T04:59:18Z")
The sequel was “Belles on their Toes.” I enjoyed it quite a bit, although it didn’t quite catch me as “Cheaper” did. Still, the mother character received some great attention and it was a solid, funny book. The male co-author… Frank? also wrote a book about his experience in the military that was pretty funny. I can’t remember the name for the life of me. A favorite family waiting-in-interminable-lines game is to try and name all twelve Gilbreths. Usually we can get eleven (and yes, we get Mary in there right away). I don’t have high hopes for the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/13 "2003-11-26T05:11:12Z")
I, too read the book and liked the Clifton Webb/Myra Loy movie; I considered watching the remake ONLY because of Steve Martin…then I saw the previews. I’ll meet **Eve’s** “Oy” and raise her a “Feh.” Thanks for reminding me about the subsequent Gilbreth books/novels; [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com), here I come! ---
**Author:** ![Dizzy\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dizzy\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dizzy_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/14 "2003-11-26T05:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\*They’re merely using the same title, god only knows why. \*\* I believe that’s known in the business as “pulling a Home Alone 3.” ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/15 "2003-11-26T05:18:06Z")
**Torgo.** The problem is not that **‘Dozen’** deviates from the book… its that as a movie remake it borrows its title from a more-or-less “classic” movie and appears to deviate significantly from the original motion picture formula. It’s like watching a trailer for a 21st century remake of **Cuckoo’s Nest** where the wacky inmates of an insane asylum sabotages a prestigious nurses convention hosted by the evil Nurse Cratchett. It’s just so wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/16 "2003-11-26T05:40:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Askia \* > \*\ ***Torgo.** The problem is not that **‘Dozen’** deviates from the book… its that as a movie remake it borrows its title from a more-or-less “classic” movie and appears to deviate significantly from the original motion picture formula. > \*\* Bah, Hollywood releases a remake that deviates from the original, people complain. [Hollywood releases a remake EXACTLY like the original,](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0155975) people complain! Make up your darn minds, people! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/17 "2003-11-26T05:40:26Z")
Shh! Don’t give them ideas! ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/18 "2003-11-26T05:41:50Z")
Curse you, **Leaper**! If I hadn’t previewed, my reply would have been in the proper place next to **Askia** ’s post. But no. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/19 "2003-11-26T05:56:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Askia \* > **It’s like watching a trailer for a 21st century remake of Cuckoo’s Nest where the wacky inmates of an insane asylum sabotages a prestigious nurses convention hosted by the evil Nurse Cratchett.** Nurse Ratched? Or is this a _Christmas Carol_ hybrid? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288/20 "2003-11-26T07:33:11Z")
**Walloon.** Oh, it’s _Ratched_. At least I quit calling her “Nurse Wretched.” **Leaper.** This was part of an article on Upcoming Hollywood Remakes that I pitched to, then had rejected by, MAD magazine a few years ago. That Ratched/Cratchett thing might help explain why! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crappier-by-the-dozen/215288.md?page=2)