Hobson's Choice (1954)

Henry Hobson 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, owner/operator of Hobson's Boots, lives with his three adult daughters, Maggie, Alice and Vicky, 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 in that professional service). 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 how wrong he is about her being an unmarriageable spinster. As such, ...

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Plot Keywords:

england | 1880's | seashell | ladder | sister sister relationship | 

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Taglines:

The Critics' Choice

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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

Final film of Julien Mitchell.

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Goofs

When Maggie and Willie leave their benefactress' house, the film crew is reflected in the shop windows as the two walk down the street.

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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 How About You... (2007)

User Reviews

great film

A great film with a great cast and a great director. The plot has Charles Laughton the owner of shoe shop that is run by his three daughters. Laughton is also a big drunk and his daughters want to get married but he won't let them. This is the third film I've seen of David Lean, after The bridge on the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia, and i think he's better at directing these kind of films. Charles Laughton is great and so is the rest of the cast. If you get a chance, watch it, you won't be disappointed.