Hobson's Choice - Hobson's Choice (1954) Discussion

[–] Harold_Robbins 18 years ago

I'm watching this for the first time in probably 15 years or so - a wonderfully blustery performance by Laughton, and what a surprise to see the young "Sybil Fawlty" as daughter Vicky.

Those of you who think you know everything should politely defer to those of us who actually do!

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[–] axis12002 16 years ago

I originally watched this about 17 years ago and at the time I didn't really get it. I have long been a fan of classic cinema but this one just didn't do it for me.

However, I watched it again last night and was absolutely captivated. Everything was just spot on - acting , script , set design , direction , costume , casting - all were just perfect for the material.

Normally my opinions of films don't change all that much over time and over repeat viewings so this had been a real surprise and I can't wait to see what other films I may re-evaluate in future.

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[–] terrythomas 17 years ago

Just saw the movie and thought it was delightful; something of a minor classic. Laughton is brilliant (as always); this is perhaps his broadest performance, and he delivers it with gusto.

And Harold Robbins, I also found it interesting to see Sybil Fawlty so young; I'm a HUGE FAWLTY TOWERS fan. :)

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[–] pocomarc 17 years ago

This movie is a dismal failure.

There was not a single sympathetic character in the entire tedious, boring story.

Laughton did his best, but he had little to work with.

Could have been a little better if at least one of the females involved had been attractive, but none were.

What misery.

If this were the only movie I had ever seen, I would never see another one.

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[–] msclawdie-1 16 years ago

I would be very interested to know what movies pocomarc likes. Of the many hundreds I have seen in my lifetime, I found this one of the most delightful.

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[–] rob-hymer 15 years ago

Looking at his profile, he doesn't seem to like any movies, poor lad/lass. A great pity; I thought the entire cast was sympathetic, even poor drunken, thwarted, out-manouvered old Hobson.
Still, horses for courses.

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[–] martincrothers 13 years ago

obviously we all have different tastes, but if you consider this piece of filmaking to be attrocious i would love to see your idea of an entertaining movie, and to suggest the females were not attractive additionally shows you know just as little about human beauty as well. You must be disapointed a lot in your life if you considered this a miserable movie.

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[–] paul-ayland 16 years ago

I completey love this film, its always been in my top ten. Its subtle humour is charming and my favourite scene is vertually all visual humour. John Mills getting dressed for bed on his wedding night is one of the best bits of visual humour you are ever likely to see. The way he puts his shoulders back more like he's gonig into battle makes me laugh every time. Excellent film with a brilliant cast, laughton at his best, John Milss at his best and i will always think Brenda De Banzie has been the most underrated actress ever, she's excellent in anything i've ever seen her in. How can anyone not love this film ?

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[–] liscarkat-2 16 years ago

Poor pockmarc. Give heem some candy.

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[–] zurichpoet 15 years ago

Laughton is amazing in this.
Never heard of it until recently.
Glad I got on the boat!

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[–] Petie3-2 15 years ago

I always thought Hobson's choice was to be either hung or shot.

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[–] lmchildress 15 years ago

No, it's a choice between something or nothing. The Hobson of the saying was a stable owner, who gave customer's the choice of the horse nearest the door or no horse.

It fits the film because Hobson is given a choice of accepting his daughter Maggie's terms or nothing.

I just saw this for the first time last night. Wonderful movie, and Laughton was in top form. I love John Mills in anything, and the woman who played Maggie should have been more known than she was.

The Criterion DVD has a documentary about Laughton which is superb, as well.

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[–] tramky 14 years ago

Recently watched this film on DVD--the title was familiar but I had never seen it before. It was delightful, funny, with a somewhat serious sense about it as well.

Laughton was, as usual, marvelous. What a character. The scene when Maggie makes him eat the slice of the wedding cake is priceless--right up there with W.C. Fields dealing with a glass of water!

Brenda de Banzie--and who the heck was SHE??!!--was wonderful as Maggie. I had never heard her name before seeing them in the credits of this movie.

It was a treat to see this film of David Lean--quite a different genre from his epic widescreen tales of love, war, and love & war.

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[–] sharonlee-4 14 years ago

We "did" Hobsons Choice in our english class at school, that was the first I heard of it and all I remember of our studies was Hobson being dismayed at the girls bustles! Then I saw the film and was hooked, its my all time top favourite film. Perhaps being from the north of england helps a little, even if thats just pure indulgence at finding the language so familiar and heart-warming, but all the characters are so brilliantly played that it transcends geography and certainly age.

I too had never seen Brenda de Banzie in anything other than this movie and, as great as Charles Laughton and John Mills were, she made this movie for me. One of my favourite parts is when she draws Will into the "ginnel" to kiss her for the first time, urging him to "get it over with lad", for a strong, determined woman, she also displayed such a gentleness in her features, musta been love!

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[–] IloveMuggy 11 years ago

I stumbled upon HC today and was instantly captivated--what a treasure!

The acting is superb throughout. Willie's nervousness over fulfilling his groom-ly, uh, "duties" is handled so well by the great John Mills when he asks his brothers-in-law to hang out for a few minutes. They are amazed that he's so bashful since he's known Maggie for a while at that point, but he rightly informs them, "Maggie's not the kind of woman you get familiar with!"

And whenever Maggie calls out to Willie, "I'm ready!" well, has there ever been a funnier/more touching love scene that we never actually see? Just brilliant. And then we witness Willie gradually become the man Maggie always knew he could be, in every way. So very sweet!

Even severe alcoholism is treated with respect and just the right touch of humor. The "rat" at Hobson's bedside was scary/humorous/just perfect. Charles Laughton is, as always, outstanding. Yet, he doesn't overdo it and the excellent supporting cast more than holds their own with him.

LOVE this movie!

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[–] cwente2 11 years ago

Muggy,

I couldn't agree more.

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[–] jhpen22 11 years ago

Another late comer, here--late in life and late to "discover" this delightful/hilarious/humane movie. Others have applauded it well, so I'll note a few things about the courses these characters take. The trajectories of Mills' and de Banzie's characters are the reverse of each other. Maggie makes a man out of mousy Will, and Will changes Maggie from a hard-edged, bossy woman to a loving wife. When he stands up to Hobson and Maggie about the name on the new sign, you can see in Maggie's face that he's surprised her: this wasn't part of the plan at all. That's made clear in the dialog that follows, but it's most clear in de Banzie's acting. So he becomes more masculine and she more feminine. What a marvelous piece of writing brought to life by equally marvelous actors!

I needn't repeat how delicious Laughton's performance is. Hobson has a trajectory of his own, and Laughton is perfect as he accepts the choice he must make: he pretends that he's taking charge by calling in the lawyer son-in-law to draw up the partnership agreement. Maggie and Will let him get by with "taking charge," so he has his pride in the end.

Garrison Keillor says that some people see life as a tragedy, and others see it as a comedy. This is fine a film as ever seen--probably the finest--that takes serious subjects and characters that are all flawed and treats the whole thing with charming humor. Bravo for all concerned!

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[–] cdss 11 years ago

When he stands up to Hobson and Maggie about the name on the new sign, you can see in Maggie's face that he's surprised her: this wasn't part of the plan at all. That's made clear in the dialog that follows, but it's most clear in de Banzie's acting.

I disagree: all through Will and Maggie's relationship, she's clearly moulding him to become the man he truly is. In the confrontation over the name of the shop, Maggie is clearly testing Will, just to see if he's up to the task. Will also recognises this fact and stands his ground. Maggie then realises that Will has grown beyond what she can teach him and, in a truly brilliant piece of acting (most of it non-verbal), conveys both her delight that Will has indeed become the man she knew him capable of being, her sadness at the realisation that she has nothing left to teach him and her pride in what he's become. We are given a clue as to this eventual outcome in the scene where Will tells Maggie that he's paid back Mrs Hepworth.

But Maggie is still Maggie: in the final scene where Will wants to replace the brass wedding ring with a proper one, Maggie still manages to assert herself but now as a true equal to Will.

This film ranks as one of my top three of all time, along with Koyaaniqatsi and Eraserhead—a truly masterful piece of filmmaking and a virtually flawless piece of ensemble acting. Genius!

=:~)

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[–] Prismark10 9 years ago

It would not work if filmed nowadays but for its time a great opening appearance by him.

Its that man again!!

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