Hobson's Choice (1954)

Director:

David Lean

Writers:

Harold Brighouse (play)
Wynyard Browne (writer)

Release Date:

19 April 1954 (Denmark)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A Masterpiece of Lusty, Gusty, Rowdy Entertainment

Plot:

Henry Hobson runs a successful bootmaker's shop in nineteenth-century Salford. A widower with a weakness for the pub opposite...

Plot Keywords:

Salford | Daughters | Pub | Marriage | Shoemaker

Awards:

Won BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Charles Laughton	...	Henry Horatio Hobson
John Mills	...	Willie 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. MacFarlane

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Salford, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

John Mills often cited this as being his favorite film.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene at the beginning of the film when Hobson is at the top of the staircase, the shot of him there shows a mat or carpet under his feet. On the immediate following shot showing the landing, there is no mat or carpet.

Movie Connections:

Version of Hobson's Choice (1920)

Perfect film

Made by one of the greatest practitioners of film making ever, this is a superb story with excellent characters. I defy anyone not to enjoy Charles Laughton's towering performance. There is so much in this film to revel in. I love the way the men constantly think they are running the show when in fact the women are. Laughton clings on to the last vestiges of male power but is no match for his intelligent daughter played by Brenda de Banzie. The opening shot alone is superb with the wooden boot creaking in the wind. Although this is a slightly ominous first shot, the film soon becomes peppered with touches of comedy throughout. The scene when Hobson walks back from the Moonrakers pub is wonderful and sublime. Purely magical cinema as he looks at the moon reflected in the puddles and tries to catch it. Lean lets us take in the scene instead of rushing it. This film is often overlooked when people talk about Lean's oeuvre. I have no idea why.