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Hobson's Choice (The Criterion Collection) [DVD]

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings
IMDb7.7/10.0

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DVD
February 17, 2009
The Criterion Collection
1
$14.97 $13.47
DVD
1
$6.26
DVD
May 5, 2014
0th Anniversary Edition
1
$12.14 $16.36
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Genre Comedy
Format Multiple Formats, Black & White, NTSC
Contributor Brenda De Banzie, David Lean, John Mills, Charles Laughton
Language English
Number Of Discs 1
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Product Description

Product Description

An unsung comic triumph from David Lean, Hobson's Choice stars the legendary Charles Laughton as the harrumphing Henry Hobson, the owner of a boot shop in late-Victorian Northern England. With his haughty, independent daughter Maggie (Brenda De Banzie) decides to forge her own path, romantically and professionally, with the help of none other than Henry's prized bootsmith Will (a splendid John Mills), father and daughter find themselves head-to-head in a fiery match of wills. Equally charming and caustic, Hobson's Choice, adapted from Harold Brighouse's famous play, is filled to the brim with great performances and elegant, inventive camera work.

SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES:
New high-definition digital transfer--restoration by the BFI National Archive, funded by the David Lean Foundation and StudioCanal
Audio commentary featuring film scholars Alain Silver and James Ursini, co-authors of David Lean and His Films
The Hollywood Greats: Charles Laughton, a 1978 BBC documentary about the actor s life and career, featuring interviews with his friends and colleagues
Theatrical trailer
PLUS: A new essay by critic Armond White

Amazon.com

Britain's greatest-ever film director David Lean wasn't feted for providing belly-laughs. His finest films, from Great Expectations (1946) to Lawrence of Arabia (1962) are resolutely sober, which is more than can be said of Henry Horatio Hobson in his wonderfully comic encounter with the moon in Hobson's Choice. Lean's only other comedy was Blithe Spirit (1945), but here he approaches matters of the heart with a surprising lightness of touch and wins a marvellous performance from Charles Laughton--himself soon to make his one and only film as a director, Night of the Hunter (1955). The setting is late-19th century Salford (the b/w location filming is exceptional), and widower Henry Hobson forbids his three daughters to marry to avoid paying their dowries. Romance will not be thwarted by economics, and much humorous conflict ensues, interspersed with some serious and even disturbing moments--the shaving scene when Laughton gets the DTs is a queasily unbalanced. Brenda De Banzie is splendidly spirited as the eldest daughter, Maggie, while her fiance is played by the ever excellent John Mills, who would later win an Oscar for his part in Lean's much more serious love story, Ryan's Daughter (1970). --Gary S. Dalkin

Stills from Hobson's Choice (Click for larger image)

Product details

  • Aspect Ratio ‏ : ‎ 1.33:1
  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ CRRN1792DVD
  • Director ‏ : ‎ David Lean
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Black & White, NTSC
  • Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 48 minutes
  • Release date ‏ : ‎ February 17, 2009
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Charles Laughton, John Mills, Brenda De Banzie
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Criterion Collection
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B001LMU1A0
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ USA
  • Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,156 ratings

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,156 global ratings

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Top reviews from other countries

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Michael
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Criterion
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2021
One person found this helpful
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Mr. Craig R. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect condition
Reviewed in Australia on June 11, 2020
One person found this helpful
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Pedro Vega Yll
5.0 out of 5 stars INCREIBLE CHARLES LAUGTON !!!
Reviewed in Spain on December 18, 2014
2 people found this helpful
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HASSOUN
5.0 out of 5 stars Tout bon
Reviewed in France on February 18, 2013
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Aurora Borealis
5.0 out of 5 stars Brillante Verfilmung!
Reviewed in Germany on March 8, 2011
2 people found this helpful
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