Hobson's Choice (1953)

94% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
90% of users liked it
(1,390 ratings)

A "Hobson's Choice," as any slang expert will tell you, is no choice at all. In this 1953 filmization of Harold Brighouse's 1915 play Hobson's Choice, hero John Mills finds after several reels of evidence to the contrary that he does have a choice over how he'll conduct his life after all. Mills is… More A "Hobson's Choice," as any slang expert will tell you, is no choice at all. In this 1953 filmization of Harold Brighouse's 1915 play Hobson's Choice, hero John Mills finds after several reels of evidence to the contrary that he does have a choice over how he'll conduct his life after all. Mills is the assistant to domineering boot-shop owner Charles Laughton, who lords it over his employees and three daughters by day, then tumbles through the streets on many a drunken evening. Laughton's "old-maid" daughter Brenda DeBanzie breaks free of her father's tyranny, marries Mills, and together with her new husband sets up a rival boot shop when Laughton refuses her a dowry. Father rants and raves, but finally agrees to a merger with his daughter that will assure Mills a large measure of freedom over managing things. The winner of the British Film Institute "Best Film" award of 1954, Hobson's Choice chalked up another international success for director David Lean. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 47 min.
Directed By: David Lean
Written By: Harold Brighouse, Wynyard Browne
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1953 Wide
On DVD: Feb 17, 2009

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
A delightful and rewarding British film.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
David Lean directed, with wit and tact.
Christopher Long, Movie Metropolis
If your drunken buffoon tolerance is higher than mine, you will probably be more kindly disposed towards the film.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
David Lean minor classic that has grown in stature over last five decades.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Hobson's Choice is a superb addition to the Lean canon, and a charming and surprising selection by Criterion.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Lean's splendid frames specifically work to show the high and low status of a social grid.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
makes everything old seem brilliantly and often hilariously new
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Though Lean's direction is indeed too heavy and careful to give way to much laughter, he has a secret weapon here: Charles Laughton.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A pure joy.
Sean Axmaker, Seanax.com
Hobson's Choice is a crisply directed comedy of lively and quirky characters in a vivid world of social snobbery and working-class life...
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Laughton is marvelous in this wry comedy.
, Empire Magazine
Flavoursome period charmer and a lovely, memorable performance from Mills.
, Time Out
Lean's sharp direction and impeccable performances all round transform a slight comedy into a timeless delight.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Small-scale David Lean comedy with great Laughton performance.
, Film4
A minor classic.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cindy I

I usually associate David Lean with sweeping epics, so I was pleasantly surprised by this light comedy. Charles Laughton plays Hobson, the blustery owner of a bootmaking shop in 1890s London and father of 3 daughters. The oldest (Brenda de Banzie), not married at the ripe old age of… More
I usually associate David Lean with sweeping epics, so I was pleasantly surprised by this light comedy. Charles Laughton plays Hobson, the blustery owner of a bootmaking shop in 1890s London and father of 3 daughters. The oldest (Brenda de Banzie), not married at the ripe old age of 30 and in danger of becoming an "old maid", pursues and marries (out of spite) the best bootmaker in her father's shop. This of course infuriates her father, who had decided she shouldn't marry and should dedicate her life to caring for him and the bootshop, puts his foot down in efforts to stop her. But fortunately the daughter is as stubborn as he is, and gets her way. Laughton does comedy better than I expected he would, and John Mills as good as well as the unwitting bridegroom. A little side treat was to catch Prunella Scales (of Faulty Towers fame) as a teenager playing Hobson's youngest daughter.
jay n

Delightful!
Randy T

I imagine that it's hard for an actor to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Charles Laughton, but John Mills does himself proud. What a delightful, very British, comedy classic.
Stella D

a lovely early comedy from david lean with outstanding cast, including a marvelous performance by charles laughton at the height of his powers
cody f

David Lean has two periods in his filmaking career Pre-Epics then Epics. Hobson's Choice is Lean's next to last film before Kwai, which would be the direction Lean would go for the rest of his career. I don't think David Lean gets the attention he deserves for his… More
David Lean has two periods in his filmaking career Pre-Epics then Epics. Hobson's Choice is Lean's next to last film before Kwai, which would be the direction Lean would go for the rest of his career. I don't think David Lean gets the attention he deserves for his Pre-Epic films. Oliver Twist ,Brief Encounter, Great Expectations, and now Hobson's Choice are all great films. Lean also wrote all of these films and only wrote one more film during his Epic Period. Hobson's Choice is about a widowed drunk boot maker who loses control of his daughters as they get married. Laughton is wonderful in the title role and so is John Mills who plays the student who becomes the master. The film belongs to Brenda De Banzie who is Hobson's eldest daughter. She is just as bull-headed as her father, but also smarter. She takes Mills under her wing and remoulds him into a stronger person. The film also deals with the class system in England and is beautifully photographed. If you like Davis Lean's Pre-Epics then this is a must-see.