-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SPjj2FGhenv7cmUkwvcuYjRxrk44IIsuogLwjhLs12QtiREtyecd6Hhs/pkUUUaM
 qlU4Bh/ZFdoxHbv6D2O4Bg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-10-068124.txt : 20101223
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-10-068124.hdr.sgml : 20101223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101223151312
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-10-068124
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BRADSHAW RALPH W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001107682

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-02363
		FILM NUMBER:		101272082

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1075 HENDERSONVILLE ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 250
		CITY:			ASHEVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28803

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000033934
		IRS NUMBER:				132727013
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC
		STREET 2:		350 JERICHO TURNPIKE, SUITE 206
		CITY:			JERICHO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11753
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(646) 881-4985

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ULTIMUS FUND SOLUTIONS, LLC
		STREET 2:		350 JERICHO TURNPIKE, SUITE 206
		CITY:			JERICHO
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11753

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EIS FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXCELSIOR INCOME SHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v206494_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033934</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001107682</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRADSHAW RALPH W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1075 HENDERSONVILLE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ASHEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2493</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4729</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ralph W. Bradshaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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