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.
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Title: Hobson's Choice (1954)
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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 | |
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Plot Summary
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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 ... Written by Huggo/edited by statmanjeff
Plot Keywords:
england | seashell | ladder | sister sister relationship | suspenders |Taglines:
Rollicking! Rowdy! Irresistible! It's Everybody's Choice! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
19 April 1954 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Hobson's Choice See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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Henry Hobson: Beg pardon.
Maggie Hobson: Good job your Masons' meetings are only once a month.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The original Broadway production of "Hobson's Choice" by Harold Brighouse opened at the Princess Theater on November 2, 1915, and ran for one hundred thirty-five performances. The play moved to the Comedy Theater during the first month. See more »Goofs
Willy Mossop places his belt on top of his jacket whilst undressing on his wedding night. Moments later he is called into the bedroom and picks up his trousers and jacket, but his belt is missing. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Henry Hobson: Beg pardon.
Maggie Hobson: Good job your Masons' meetings are only once a month.
See more »
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This delightful seldom aired little masterpiece of a movie is one of David Lean's best, and one of my favourites.
Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie, and all the supporting cast are on top form in this story (based on the play by Harold Brigham) about the goings-on in a Salford shoe shop.
Hobson, the hard drinking proprietor of the shop, is a "big fish in a little pond", but who gets his come-uppance by way of his eldest daughter and his erstwhile illiterate boot hand.
If you're looking for entertainment value, forget all those sumptuous looking blockbuster movies, which have great special effects but sometimes very little plot, this little black and white movie runs rings round them.