This is the sequel to "Cheaper by the Dozen" of 1950, about the large family of efficiency experts Frank and Lillian Gilbreth. As the youngest of the family graduates, Lillian looks back on her trials as a poor widow raising twelve children, five girls and seven boys, with the help of their loyal houseman Tom.
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Determined to keep the children together despite Cousin Leora's dire forecast of financial disaster, Lillian sends them to Nantucket with Tom while she looks for work. They have to live mainly on beans, but manage to enjoy themselves until they return to New Jersey. There they have to scrimp and cut corners to keep the family together, for example negotiating a special rate at the barbers and making their own root beer, but they are always lively and there are plenty of comical and romantic incidents to keep them amused.
Lillian, an industrial engineer like her husband, finds she receives nothing but rejections from the firms she approaches. Sam Harper of Harper Electrics wants some well-trained engineering executives and although initially as prejudiced as the others, likes Lillian and is convinced by her arguments. He eventually agrees to send six engineering students for her to train at home and even persuades some other firms to send pupils. Impressed by one of Lillian's articles, the Engineers Club of America invites Dr L. M. Gilbreth to speak without realizing she is a woman. When she arrives she is not allowed by their rules to enter the building and is turned away by the doorman. Furious, she drives away and collides with a parked truck. The handsome doctor who treats her in hospital falls for Ann, the oldest daughter. When Lillian is offered a college professorship, Ann feels she will be even more needed at home, but the doctor wants to marry her without delay.
The review of this Movie prepared by Maureen Evans
