Synopsis
Perpetually tipsy Henry Hobson (Laughton), the owner of a successful shoe-making business, dominates the employees in his business and the three unmarried daughters in his home. His pretty younger daughters, Alice (Anderson) and Vicky (Scales), have suitors, although Hobson is reluctant to provide a dowry for either of them. Hobson expects that his plain oldest daughter, Maggie (de Banzie), will remain his dutiful, unmarried, housekeeper. Maggie has other ideas. She takes control of shy and self-effacing William Mossop (Mills), Hobson’s best shoe maker, and marries him. They start their own shoe-making business in competition with her father. Rich Mrs. Hepworth (Helen Haye) and other well-to-do-customers choose Willie to make their shoes, and Hobson’s business declines.
One night, the drunken Hobson falls into the cellar of the corn warehouse belonging to the family of Vicky’s beau. He spends the night sleeping among and damaging some bags of flour. Hobson is sued for damages, and Maggie maneuvers so that he settles out of court. The money is used to provide suitable dowries for the two younger daughters. Hobson has lost control over his business and his household; his drinking is damaging his health. He is forced to compromise with Maggie. Maggie and Will become equal partners with him in the shop, and Maggie will care for her father and manage their home.
Discussion
Wonderfully funny, charming, and touching, the film features appealing characters, quality dialogue and first-rate acting. Central character Maggie Hobson is an independent, determined, loving woman. Plain-looking, understated, steady, and intelligent, Maggie has been underestimated by everybody, but she knows herself and achieves her goals for success and happiness. She recognizes the potential in uneducated, shy William Mossop and sets about raising him up. Love develops between them. Maggie achieves her final goal when she takes charge of her debilitated father and his failing business.
The best-known play written by the prolific Harold Brighouse, Hobson's Choice opened on Broadway in 1915 and in London in 1916. A repertory standard in English theater and read frequently in school, Hobson's Choice was previously filmed in England in 1920 and 1930. Lean's version closely follows the play, with only minor alterations.
Cowriter and associate producer Norman Spencer met David Lean in 1942 and had
worked with him on most of his films prior to Hobson’s Choice.
Spencer did not see the filmic potential in Hobson's Choice, but Lean
was in love
with the play and felt it would make a fine film. Sir Alexander
Korda, their money man,
agreed with Lean. Lean wanted character actor Roger
Livesey for the lead; Spencer preferred Laughton,
a huge personality, a little fat, commandful.
Laughton was the first
big Hollywood name
to appear in a Lean film. They spent ten weeks in the
London studio, and eight days on location in Salford, Lancashire. Vocal coaches
helped the actors attain the proper Lancashire accent.
Born in England, Charles Laughton made his first Hollywood film, James Whale's The Old Dark House, in 1932. He earned an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1933 for The Private Life of Henry VIII. An actor with a unique voice, distinctive face and figure, and immense screen presence, he became an inimitable star early in his career. His versatility is demonstrated by his skillful portrayals of such diverse characters as the maniacal Dr. Moreau in Island of Lost Souls (1932), the shy valet of Ruggles of Red Gap (1935), and Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939).
Never a leading lady, plain, sharp-featured Brenda de Banzie has the role of her film career as the determined and strong-minded Maggie. Born in Manchester, Lancashire, England, De Banzie made her stage debut at age sixteen. She gained extensive stage experience in repertory and on tour before her first appearance in London. Her most notable theatrical role was as Phoebe, the second wife of Archie Rice (played by Lawrence Olivier), in the stage productions of The Entertainer (1957-58). She reprised the role in the 1960 film version. De Banzie was active on British television in the 1950s and 1960s.
Initially, Robert Donat was playing William Mossop, but after an asthma attack the
insurers would not cover him. John Mills was called away from his holiday in the
south of France to play the role. Mills, who was establishing himself as a
romantic lead, was initially reluctant to play such a passive character. Later he
called it one of his favorite parts. (If the response of the women in the 1954
audiences was similar to the responses at the 2014 TCM Film Festival screening,
Mills had no cause for concern about his standing as a romantic lead. Members of
the audience squealed and cooed in response to his scenes with de Banzie. One
woman stated that Mills was adorable,
awesome,
and she could
eat him up.
The film made her so happy she wanted to hug
the
screen.) Mills later won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role
in Lean's Ryan's Daughter (1970).
TCM Film Festival, 2014
Hobson's Choice was shown as part of the Daddy/Daughter
theme at the 2014
TCM Classic Film Festival. The guest speaker was Dennis Bartok, executive vice
president for acquisitions and distribution of Cinelicious Pics, a film
distribution company, who discussed the history of the film. David Lean, in
mid-career, had previously directed two films derived from classic literature,
Great Expectations (1946) and Oliver Twist (1948). His
two films prior to Hobson's Choice, Madeleine (1950) and
Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952), had been less successful than the
literary adaptations. The film mirrors Lean's life; Lean did not get on with his
own father who wanted him to be an accountant and did not expect him to amount to
much. Similarly, Hobson expects less of Maggie, his oldest daughter, who goes her
own way. The title refers to a 16th century saying: in a stable
Hobson’s choice
means to take the horse nearest the door or none at all. In
other words, take it or leave it.
Further Reading