<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001398344-22-012687.txt : 20220629
<SEC-HEADER>0001398344-22-012687.hdr.sgml : 20220629
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20220629171517
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001398344-22-012687
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20220628
FILED AS OF DATE:		20220629
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20220629

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:		221055517

	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:		225 PICTORIA DRIVE, SUITE 450
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45246
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(513) 587-3400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 PICTORIA DRIVE, SUITE 450
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45246

	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>fp0077240_4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2022-06-28</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>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8395</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2022-06-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28728</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-transferable rights were issued to stockholders of record as of April 18, 2022 in connection with a rights offering by the Issuer at the rate of one right for each share of common stock owned. Every three rights received by the holder entitled such holder to purchase one share of common stock and fully-subscribed holders were entitled to oversubscribe for additional shares if available. Purchases made pursuant to the rights offering are reflected in this filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The total shares in column (5) includes 9,010 shares acquired through the Issuer's dividend reinvestment plan since the reporting person's previous Form 4 filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ralph Bradshaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2022-06-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
