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"Hobson's Choice:" early David Lean and very, very good. It features, at its core,

67.42.180.92

three masterful performances which deserve eternal fame, those of John Mills, Charles Laughton, and Brenda de Banzie.
An old drunk has the best boot shop in Lancashire, maintained by his oldest daughter and a brilliant artisan, but he takes them for granted. Eventually, he drives them away and his world unravels.
Actually, the film is not as dour as it sounds; Laughton is one of film's greatest physical comedians and his gifts fully are on view. Mills is a perfect foil for the force-of-nature Laughton and de Banzie could give lessons in tact, control, and strength to many actresses that have tried to balance the qualities of steely toughness with a heart-of-gold.
Yes, this is a hopelessly melodramatic and feel-good exercise--- but what a brilliant one!
It unjustly has been forgotten. Help to rectify that, immediately.

Follow Ups:

"Help to rectify that, immediately." - grhughes 05:42:51 07/15/09 (1)
How do we do that when most audiences today have a different set of values? Why was there a 14 year amnesty on this fine film maker doing anything in his most productive years brought on by a self righteous gang of critics. I agree with you. Ray Hughes
"I think the journey should be just as enjoyable as the destination." GRH
- Rent it! Spread the word. Only by seeing great films of the past will - tinear 07:20:49 07/17/09 (0)
  modern audiences wake up and realize how low standards have sunk.
RE: The Moon in the gutter-- - patrickU 11:58:05 07/14/09 (0)
One of the most powerful image.
"Hobson's" is certainly among my top Choices - Bambi B 07:52:37 07/14/09 (4)
tinear,

I too am a big fan of "Hobson's Choice" for all the reasons you mention and I might add how brilliant is the photography. Especially effective too is the music by is by Malcolm Arnold- some of the best film music I know.

"Hobson's", along with "Mutiny", "Witness", and "Hunchback" are Laughton's greatest roles and this was one of Mills' greatest too. The way Mills evolves from mouse to man under deBanzie's gentle upper cuts to the jaw is fantastic. Remember when Mill's comes out of the bedroom after his wedding night- in which he was more the nervous bride than she- and Mills seems transformed overnight: "BY GUM!"

Note, also that one of the daughters is an early appearance of Prunella Scales, a.k.a. Sybil Fawlty in "Fawlty Towers"

You must've missed PatrickU's post of about three weeks ago:

http://www.videoasylum.com/films/messages/6/67712.html

- a new release of "Hobson's".

I'm sending off as "Hobson's" is one of those rare movies I like to see about every three-four years. A remarkable, memorable movie- certainly not forgotten by those who've seen it.

Cheers,

Bambi B
- Myself, I'd say his roles in, "Mutiny on the Bounty," "Ruggles of Red Gap," - tinear 08:13:52 07/14/09 (3)
  "Les Miserables," "Rembrandt," and "Jamaica Inn," were his best!
  Of course, I couldn't argue very hard with you about your favorites, either. That's one mark of a true genius (him, not you, though well you may be)--- it's hard to separate the very good from the great work.
  - RE: Jamaica Inn was a terrible film. - patrickU 11:56:04 07/14/09 (1)
    Maybe the worst in Hitch career.
    And even over playing his role very often, dancing instead of walkin in his queer way CL was always a treat to see.
    
    Henry the 8
    The Paradine case
    This land is mine
    The hunchback of Notre Dame...
    
    One of the very finest actor ever.
    - I found it amusing but more to the point, Laughton was terrific! nt - tinear 12:23:49 07/14/09 (0)
      d
  - Yes, IO.K., those three are ALSO Laughton's greatest role ! (nt) - Bambi B 11:33:03 07/14/09 (0)
    BB

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