Hobson's Choice

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Hobson's Choice

1954

1h 47m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

91%

Tomatometer

23 Reviews

91%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton), a British widower, is the overbearing owner of a shoe shop. His three daughters -- Alice, Vicky and Maggie (Brenda De Banzie) -- work for him and all are eager to get out from under his thumb. When the headstrong Maggie announces she intends to marry Henry's best employee, Will (John Mills), father and daughter engage in an intense showdown. As Maggie works on launching a competing business, she also helps her sisters free themselves of their domineering father.

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Joe Clay

Times (UK)

David Lean’s impeccable adaptation of Harold Brighouse’s comedic play features terrific turns from Charles Laughton, John Mills and Brenda de Banzie.

Oct 18, 2022

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TIME Magazine

Hobson's Choice is a cheerful little slice of death, warmed over and served with some lively comic sauces by Producer-Director David Lean and Actor Charles Laughton.

May 1, 2013

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Variety Staff

Variety

Although Laughton richly overplays every major scene, his performance remains one of the film's highlights.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Howard McClay

Illustrated Daily News (Los Angeles)

An exhilarating film frolic.

Mar 30, 2022

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

...shrewd and jolly British comedy.

Dec 16, 2019

Full Review

MFB Critics

Monthly Film Bulletin

Hobson's Choice is unmistakably the work of a craftsman; but an over-elaborate pursuit of effects, alien to the tone of the play, cannot but over-weight the material.

Feb 2, 2018

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Tom M

An absolute barn storming performance by Laughton. A magnificent character study by Mills. And who is de Banzie, I've never heard of her before but she's terrific. Based on a play, the dialogue is funny and takes centre stage. Lean's direction is always on point and serves the material well. Pure classy filmmaking.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/25/24

Full Review

SICKS6SIX S

films don't get much better than this, Lawton is at his best IMO and all the supporting actors feed off him and deliver great supporting roles, a true classic in every sense of the word, today's directors could learn a lot by watching this film,

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

Full Review

Alec B

More evidence that David Lean was not a cold and indifferent observer of the characters in his films. Its a beautifully tender and funny film centered by an incredible performance by Charles Laughton. Also it is worth noting how well Lean captures the feeling of being drunk. Might well be the definitive film for that kind of experience.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

Full Review

Melanie M

An absolute classic British film. One you can watch over and over again.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/23

Full Review

Jackie L

It's just an absolute joy to watch. Laughton, De Banzie and Mills are just magnificent. Even if you didn't know you'd guess it was directed by David Lean.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

B

As someone who loves David Lean movies and loved Charles Laughton in Witness for the Prosecution I had high hopes for this but the old school accents irritated me, the story didn't particularly grip me and I can't think of a thing in the film that was particularly funny, slightly troubling bearing in mind it was a comedy, and the romantic element of it is almost non existent. Not a dreadful film but perplexed by its reputation, just doesn't have an awful lot going for it, there are odd bits of nice cinematography but it didn't really salvage the film and I couldn't recommend it at all.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/23

Full Review

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David Lean

Director

Charles Laughton

Henry Horatio Hobson

John Mills

Willie Mossop

Brenda De Banzie

Maggie Hobson

Daphne Anderson

Alice Hobson

Prunella Scales

Vicky Hobson

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Synopsis

Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton), a British widower, is the overbearing owner of a shoe shop. His three daughters -- Alice, Vicky and Maggie (Brenda De Banzie) -- work for him and all are eager to get out from under his thumb. When the headstrong Maggie announces she intends to marry Henry's best employee, Will (John Mills), father and daughter engage in an intense showdown. As Maggie works on launching a competing business, she also helps her sisters free themselves of their domineering father.

Director: David Lean
Producer: David Lean
Screenwriter: David Lean, Norman Spencer, Wynyard Browne
Production Co: London Film Production, British Lion Film Corporation
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 15, 2020
Runtime: 1h 47m

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