Hobson's Choice (1954)

Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton) is a successful bootmaker, a widower and a tyrannical father of three daughters. The girls each want to leave their father by getting married, but Henry refuses because marriage traditions require him to pay out settlements.

Director:

David Lean

Writers:

Harold Brighouse (by), David Lean (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Charles Laughton	...	Henry Hobson
John Mills	...	William Mossop
Brenda de Banzie	...	Maggie Hobson
Daphne Anderson	...	Alice Hobson
Prunella Scales	...	Vicky Hobson
Richard Wattis	...	Albert Prosser
Derek Blomfield	...	Freddy Beenstock
Helen Haye	...	Mrs. Hepworth
Joseph Tomelty	...	Jim Heeler
Julien Mitchell	...	Sam Minns
Gibb McLaughlin	...	Tudsbury
Philip Stainton	...	Denton
Dorothy Gordon	...	Ada Figgins
Madge Brindley	...	Mrs. Figgins
John Laurie	...	Dr. McFarlane

Storyline

1880s Salford, England. Widowed Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton), owner and operator of Hobson's Boots, lives with his three adult daughters, Maggie (Brenda de Banzie), Alice (Daphne Anderson), and Vicky (Prunella Scales), in a flat attached to the shop. Henry is miserly, dipsomaniacal, and tyrannical, not allowing his daughters to date since their sole purpose in life is in service to him and the shop (receiving no wages for their services). He changes his mind about Alice and Vicky, for whom he will choose husbands, despite these romantic ones already having chosen the men they would marry if given the opportunity. Henry will, however, not provide them with a dowry, which may prove to be a challenge in finding them men he would consider suitable husbands. Concerning Maggie, he believes her far too useful to him as the overly efficient and organized one to let go, and too old at age thirty for any man to want anyway. Incensed by her father's attitude, Maggie decides she must show him ...

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Plot Keywords:

sister sister relationship | alcoholism | husband | england | ladder | 

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Taglines:

A Masterpiece of Lusty, Gusty, Rowdy Entertainment

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 April 1954 (UK)

Also Known As:

Hobson's Choice

Filming Locations:

Peel Park, Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Film Productions, British Lion Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charles Laughton had already played the role of Hobson when he was a teenager on stage in his native town of Scarborough.

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Goofs

When the opening scene goes inside the store, it pauses to show the front door, complete with the blind rolled down. A little later Hobson lets himself in but the blind on the door is now up.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Henry Hobson: Beg pardon.
Maggie Hobson: Good job your Masons' meetings are only once a month.

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Connections

Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: Cher (2011)

User Reviews

Brilliant writing and brilliant execution!

Who isn't good in this film?

Brenda de Banzie (sp) was perfectly cast in this film and really worthy of mention! I love it when a woman knows what she wants and goes and sorts it out herself! Inspirational, especially for the 50s, and the victorian era it's set in!

John Mills, is always good, so that's no surprise, and you can't imagine anyone but Charles Laughton as Hobson.

The lack of an Oscar nomination, let alone award, just goes to show what a political and flavour-of-the-month farce it is. Is there really acting talent like this in 'Lord of the Rings'...?