Search - Hobson's Choice on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1953 DVD Release: 02/17/2009 Format: DVD - Black and White Audio Tracks: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 48 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 14 Genres: Comedy Drama, Satire, Comedy of Manners, Domestic Comedy

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, All Movie Guide

Charles Laughton - Henry Horatio Hobson
John Mills - Willie Mossop
Brenda de Banzie - Maggie Hobson
Daphne Anderson - Alice Hobson
Prunella Scales - Vicky Hobson