MovieChat Forums > Hobson's Choice (1954) Discussion > Mr and Mrs. Mossop of the future

Mr and Mrs. Mossop of the future

posted 18 years ago by alwaysalto
10 replies | jump to latest

Having watched "Hobson's Choice" enough times to memorize the dialogue, I would like to share with other fans my idea of how it all came out. Willie and Maggie do eventually move to St Anne's Square, become fabulously wealthy, have children and grandchildren. Two things never change: Maggie continues to wear the brass wedding ring despite all the other fine jewelry she has, and she never does break Willie of saying "By Gum!" The high society in which they move looks upon these habits as "charming eccentricities."

[–] Fred-333 16 years ago

Sounds right to me and it is such a simple and entertaining movie - one of my favorites and I just finished watching it again - this time I TIVOed it,

[–] dr foo 14 years ago

Yes. And eventually they buy a fine country house, and in his happy retirement, old Willie goes out to a little garden shed on a bright morning, and still makes the occasional pair of boots.

[–] sharonlee-4 14 years ago

And they always remember where they came from and that first sale of "a pair o boot-laces" that set them on their way.

[–] vinidici 12 years ago

Delightful OP & replies (preceeding mine) of a thoroughly delightful motion picture. I might add my own speculation: WWI is what would propel Willie and Maggie from mere prosperity to fabulous wealth; but, sadly, one or more of their sons won't make it back home from the war and they will be raising their orphaned grandchildren.

Whatever you do, DO NOT read this sig--ACKKK!!! TOO LATE!!!

[–] bill3-1 12 years ago

Except Maggie really did look a little too ripe to be bearing children, I guess mainly because Brenda De Banzie doesn't look 30, she looks her real age of 45, but 30 is definitely not too old to pop out a couple of kidlets, well you know what? Truly it might have been back then, women didn't age as good as they do today.

[–] HeywoodJablomy 11 years ago

Truly it might have been back then, women didn't age as good as they do today.

Not necessarily true. Both my grandmothers were over 40 when my parents were born. It wasn't that uncommon back then, what with extremely limited birth control options and all...

[–] bill3-1 11 years ago

Right, but they weren't their first kids huh? I think that's a bit of a factor.

I mainly made that comment because at that time people married much, much younger, girls were already popping out a couple of kids before 18. I guess if Brenda looked 30 I could see her and Willie maybe having one, but her and John Mills really do look their age (45).

[–] Rheli 11 years ago

I think they were such a big success that they opened up a new shop in downtown Manchester and moved house there too so as to be closer to the business. Willie took a higher and higher hand and eventually ran everything on his own. Maggie felt cut out of the decisionmaking and, having inherited the alcoholism gene from her father, started drinking in secret, eventually becoming a closet alcoholic. Feeling cut off, Willie started having an affair with his secretary. The emotional distance between them eventually becomes so severe that it breaks up the marriage; they divide their holdings, Willie staying in Manchester and Maggie going back to the old place, leading a lonely existence until she dies of cirrhosis of the liver.

You may not like it, but can you say it's not just as likely?

Where's your crew?
On the 3rd planet.
There IS no 3rd planet!
Don't you think I know that?

[–] vinidici 11 years ago

Yeah, sure, real world scenarios like you've just described are legion. But, in a tale that from start to finish portends hope for the future and the bettering of one's self and his / her own after many struggles and a lot of faith, hard work and perseverance, I'm gonna go for the equally possible scenario of "happily ever after" for Maggie and Willie, who of course will have their ups and downs in the bends that lie ahead but will remain content.

You have to understand that our two protagonists are a man and woman of decent character and values. These traits sustain people during times of adversity and they sustain marriages and families.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] greenbudgie 9 years ago

I just had to look up the meaning of 'by gum.' As I suspected, it is a way of saying 'by God.'