Hobson's Choice (1954 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Founder | David Lean (director), Harold Brighouse (original playwright) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Romantic comedy film |
Hobson's Choice is a 1954 British romantic comedy helmed by director David Lean, adapted from the 1916 theatrical work written by Harold Brighouse. The film features Charles Laughton portraying Henry Hobson, a Victorian-era bootmaker; John Mills as Will Mossop, his skilled employee; and Brenda de Banzie as Maggie, Hobson's assertive eldest daughter. Additionally, it includes one of the initial appearances of Prunella Scales.
The movie earned the British Academy Film Award for Best British Film of 1954.
Plot
Set in 1880 Salford, Henry Horatio Hobson operates a moderately prosperous boot shop. As a widower known for his stinginess, he depends on his three daughters—Maggie, Alice, and Vicky—who contribute labor without pay in the family business. Alice and Vicky intend to wed: Alice to Albert Prosser, a driven solicitor, and Vicky to Freddy Beenstock, whose family trades in corn. Hobson undervalues Maggie’s marriage prospects due to her age but appreciates her hard work.
Feeling slighted, Maggie opts to marry Willie Mossop, the talented yet underappreciated bootmaker who was previously engaged to another woman. After Maggie dissolves Willie’s prior engagement, she informs Hobson about their decision. Hobson attempts to intimidate Willie but fails; the pair depart together.
Maggie obtains a £100 loan from Mrs. Hepworth, a faithful customer, using Willie’s shoemaking skills as security. They lease a basement to establish their new shop and residence and arrange for their marriage banns.
Without Maggie’s presence, Hobson finds managing the shop difficult; Alice and Vicky struggle with the responsibilities. Following an evening of heavy drinking at The Moonrakers pub, Hobson inadvertently breaks into Beenstock & Co.’s cellar. Maggie capitalizes on this mishap by serving him with legal papers for trespassing and damages.
At the wedding of Willie and Maggie, Hobson seeks her legal counsel. She secures a £500 compensation for his trespass claim through Albert Prosser, reallocating funds originally intended for Alice and Vicky’s dowries.
Post-marriage, Willie gains self-assurance; their enterprise flourishes by blending Maggie’s business insight with Willie’s craftsmanship. Within a year, they repay Mrs. Hepworth’s loan with interest and attract most of Hobson’s former customers. Under Maggie’s mentorship, Willie evolves into a confident entrepreneur.
On New Year’s Day, Hobson receives a diagnosis of chronic alcoholism. When asked who will care for him, Alice and Vicky decline responsibility. Hobson attempts to restore previous arrangements with Maggie and Willie; however, Willie insists on an equal partnership with his name leading on the storefront sign, relegating Hobson to a silent partner role—an arrangement Hobson reluctantly accepts.
Willie wishes to exchange Maggie’s simple brass wedding band for gold, but she prefers to retain it as a reminder of their modest origins.
Cast
- Charles Laughton as Henry Horatio Hobson
- John Mills as Will Mossop
- Brenda de Banzie as Maggie Hobson
- Daphne Anderson as Alice Hobson
- Prunella Scales as Vicky Hobson
- Richard Wattis as Albert Prosser
- Derek Blomfield as Freddy Beenstock
- Helen Haye as Mrs. Hepworth
- Joseph Tomelty as Jim Heeler
- Julien Mitchell as Sam Minns, the publican
- Gibb McLaughlin as Tudsbury
- Philip Stainton as Denton
- Dorothy Gordon as Ada Figgins
- Madge Brindley as Mrs Figgins
- John Laurie as Dr. MacFarlane
- Raymond Huntley as Nathaniel Beenstock
- Jack Howarth as Tubby Wadlow, another employee of Hobson's
- Herbert C. Walton as Printer
- Edie Martin as Elderly Woman Purchasing Bootlaces
Production
Robert Donat was originally selected to portray Will Mossop but had to withdraw because of asthma. The exterior sequences were filmed in the Salford area, with Peel Park serving as the location for Maggie Hobson and William Mossop’s courting scenes. Interior shots took place at Shepperton Studios in London, featuring sets crafted under the direction of art director Wilfred Shingleton.
Soundtrack
Malcolm Arnold composed the film’s score, adapting the humorous main theme from his opera The Dancing Master. The music, arranged for a 22-piece pit orchestra, includes an unusual musical saw solo during a pivotal scene that reflects Hobson’s intoxicated condition and his obsession with the moon’s reflection.
Box office
In 1954, the film was among the top-grossing British productions and was labeled a "money maker" by the trade magazine Kinematograph Weekly.
Critical
The New York Times described the movie as "delightful and rewarding," praising both the leading actors and the direction. TV Guide gave it four stars, emphasizing its sharp wit and excellent performances by Laughton, de Banzie, and Mills. Channel 4’s Daniel Etherington lauded the film for its compelling character interactions and overall quality, referring to it as "a gem" characteristic of director David Lean’s work.
Awards
Hobson's Choice earned the Golden Bear at the 4th Berlin International Film Festival in 1954 and was honored with the British Film Academy Award for Best British Film in 1955.
Home media
The movie has been released on various formats including VHS (Warner Home Video UK), DVD (through The Criterion Collection), Blu-ray, and LaserDisc.
External links
- Hobson’s Choice: Custom-Made essay by Armond White at the Criterion Collection