To me, this movie is perfection.

Simply Perfect

A Masterpiece!

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The story of daddy's little girl leaving the nest never gets old. If you like that classic theme, go out and rent Hobson's Choice. Charles Laughton plays the overbearing father of three daughters, all of whom are extremely anxious to marry and leave. Daphne Anderson is paired with Richard Wattis, Prunella Scales with Derek Blomfield, and Brenda De Banzie wins the prize with John Mills. But Papa Laughton isn't about to let them go without a fight, and in true British fashion-propriety at all costs and dry humor thrown in for the fun of it-the family battles it out.While it's very obvious the film was based off a play, it isn't overly wordy or boring like some plays are. Parts of it are pretty funny, if you like British humor, and it's always fun to see Charles Laughton transform for a role. Check out this family comedy and see if you like it!

I am delighted by this movie. Every character is unique and great. It shows so many sides to human nature that there are no people on this planet which couldn't find something of themselves in any of the characters. When you see the movie and think about it, you wouldn't lough if someone would just tell you the story, but when you see it, the funny part is that there is so much of it true, where ever you may look, even in your own family. Just fantastic!

Directed by one of the all-time great directors David Lean, "Hobson's Choice" is the kind of movie that doesn't get made any more or probably ever will again, more's the pity. Charles Laughton plays Henry Hobson who owns a boot-shop in 19th century Salford, Manchester. He is a typical hard-drinking domineering Victorian father with three daughters, Maggie, Alice & Vicky. They are played by Brenda De Banzie, Daphne Anderson & a very young Prunella (Sybil Fawlty) Scales respectively. His eldest daughter Maggie has designs on marrying the firms star boot/shoe maker William Mossop (John Mills) but her father is dead set against it. He claims that at thirty years she is too old, "a bit on the ripe side", to get married, but the real reason is purely selfish. She runs his business very well and her father expects his meals ready & waiting on the table for him when he rolls home from the pub. Marriage would change all that & naturally her father wants to keep things exactly as they are. His two younger daughters are also looking to get hitched & their father isn't exactly encouraging both of them either. There is the question of shelling out his money on marriage "settlements" which would cut into savings severely. What follows is a battle of wills between father & daughter. Maggie gets her way in the end & claws herself out of her tyrannical father's shadow. She also sets about changing her new husband who is very much a shy retiring type of man & brings him out of his shell. They very successfully set up their own rival business & with the new-found self-confidence instilled in him by his wife, Will Mossop wants to take over his former employer's business with Hobson a sleeping partner. Hobson's hard drinking has by now taken its toll on his health & at the film's end he reluctantly agrees. Charles Laughton was one of the greatest actors this country ever produced & in this movie he is just fantastic. Brenda De Banzie & John Mills are also great but then so is the acting all around even in minor roles. This is a movie that works on every level, for my money. Shot in black & white the cinematography is great, the story is great & so too the comic situations. Highly Recommended.

The story opens in Victorian times, where Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton) is a wealthy boot shop owner, despite being a selfish blowhard and a drunkard who spends his days and nights at the pub. When he tells his smart, spinster daughter (Brenda de Banzie) that she's too old to marry, she takes matters into her own hands and marries an unlikely candidate (John Mills).This is an absolutely delightful movie with endearing characters, a funny plot, and witty dialogue and it was directed by David Lean. Laughton is very good as the blustering father, but Brenda de Banzie steals the show. She plays a strong-willed, ahead-of-her-time woman who knows what she wants and goes after it, despite the social pressures of the day. John Mills gives a sweet performance as the oafish boot hand who grows into a confident and loving businessman.The recreation of a Victorian town is complete and the costumes are lovely. This is an old-fashioned and thoroughly enjoyable movie that will leave you wondering why they don't make 'em like this anymore. Highly recommended.