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Hobson's Choice ()

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Widower Henry Hobson refuses to let his three daughters get married because he doesn't want to pay settlements, so they'll just have to outsmart him.
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Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.
  • See more »
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Photos and Videos

23 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Henry Hobson
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William Mossop
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Maggie Hobson
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Alice Hobson
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Vicky Hobson
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Albert Prosser
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Freddy Beenstock
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Mrs. Hepworth
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Jim Heeler
Julien Mitchell ...
Sam Minns
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Tudsbury
Philip Stainton ...
Denton
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Ada Figgins
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Mrs. Figgins
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Dr. McFarlane
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Nathaniel Beenstock
Jack Howarth ...
Tubby Wadlow
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Printer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Old Lady Buying Shoelaces (uncredited)
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Man who serves the Writ on Hobson (uncredited)
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Tailor who rents shop to William Mossop (uncredited)
Robert Brooks Turner ...
Beanstock Worker Who Finds Hobson in Cellar (uncredited)

Directed by

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David Lean

Written by

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Harold Brighouse ... (play)
 
David Lean ... (screenplay) &
Norman Spencer ... (screenplay) and
Wynyard Browne ... (screenplay)

Produced by

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David Lean ... producer
Norman Spencer ... associate producer

Music by

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Malcolm Arnold

Cinematography by

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Jack Hildyard ... (photographed by)

Editing by

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Peter Taylor

Editorial Department

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Teddy Darvas ... assembly cutter (uncredited)
Norman Savage ... first assistant editor (uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Wilfred Shingleton

Costume Design by

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John Armstrong

Makeup Department

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Gladys Atkinson ... hairdresser
George Partleton ... makeup artist
Tony Sforzini ... makeup artist

Production Management

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John Palmer ... production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Adrian Pryce-Jones ... assistant director
John George ... third assistant director (uncredited)
Joe Marks ... second assistant director (uncredited)
Bert Pearl ... second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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William Hutchinson ... assistant art director (as Bill Hutchinson)
James Sawyer ... draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Buster Ambler ... sound recordist
John Cox ... sound supervisor
Red Law ... sound recordist
Jimmy Dooley ... sound camera operator (uncredited)
Barbara Hopkins ... dubbing crew (uncredited)
Bob Jones ... dubbing crew (uncredited)
Peter Meyers ... assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Ken Ritchie ... boom operator (uncredited)
Ivor Worsley ... dubbing crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Bob Cuff ... matte painter (uncredited)
Wally Veevers ... special processes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Peter Newbrook ... camera operator
Alan Hall ... clapper loader (uncredited)
Ray Hearne ... still photographer (uncredited)
Dennis C. Lewiston ... clapper loader (uncredited)
Gerry Turpin ... focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Julia Squire ... costume supervisor

Music Department

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Muir Mathieson ... music director

Script and Continuity Department

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Maggie Unsworth ... continuity (as Margaret Shipway)

Additional Crew

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Pamela Mann ... producers' secretary (uncredited)
Margaret Townsend ... production secretary (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

In 1880s Salford, England, widower Henry Hobson, owner and operator of Hobson's Boots, lives with his three adult daughters Maggie, Alice, and Vicky in a flat attached to the shop. Henry is miserly, dipsomaniacal, and tyrannical, not allowing his daughters to date since their sole purpose in life is to serve him and the shop--for no wages. He changes his mind about Alice and Vicky, for whom he will choose husbands although they've also chosen the men they'd marry if they could. However, Henry won't provide them with dowries, which might be a challenge in finding them men he would consider suitable husbands. He considers Maggie far too useful to him as the overly-efficient, organized one, so doesn't intend to let her go--besides, at age 30, she's too old for any man to want anyway. Incensed by her father's attitude, Maggie decides to show him how wrong he is about her being an unmarriageable spinster by proposing to timid Willie Mossop, the shop's poor, uneducated, illiterate boot hand--yet best bootmaker, apparently better than any bootmaker in nearby Manchester--who has known no other professional life than the shop. They enter into a marriage of convenience. Despite the differences in their social classes, Maggie believes she can show her father that she can find a husband while also forcing him to treat Willie better (and by association her) in paying him decent wages, otherwise she will use her wifely influence to convince Willie to take his and her valuable services elsewhere. If their hands are forced, Maggie believes their best weapon is wealthy, particular Mrs. Hepworth, who said that only Willie shall ever make her boots. Maggie has even taken into consideration what effect her actions will have on her sisters' nuptials, vowing to them that all will be all right in that regard. Although she truly has no idea how her father will react, she hasn't considered Willie, who might already have his own life outside the shop. If he does agree, what effect will her plan have on him and his entire being? Written by Huggo

Plot Keywords
Taglines A Masterpiece of Lusty, Gusty, Rowdy Entertainment See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • David Lean's Production Of Hobson's Choice (United Kingdom)
  • The English Programme: Unit 49 - Hobson's Choice (United Kingdom)
  • Chaussure à son pied (France)
  • Trois filles à marier (France)
  • Herr im Haus bin ich (Germany)
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Runtime
  • 108 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Did You Know?

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Trivia Although playing a 30-year-old, Brenda de Banzie was 44 at the time of filming. See more »
Goofs When Maggie and Will are standing outside the church before their wedding, a cooling tower can be seen to the left of Maggie. It would not have existed in 1800's Salford. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in David Lean: A Life in Film (1985). See more »
Quotes Maggie Hobson: I've been watching you for a long time and everything I've seen I've liked. I think you'll do for me.
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