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Classic Alert ! "Hobson's Choice"




PAINTING: "Double Portrait of Henry Ford and the Standard Coupe, 1930"

Mates,

I don't ordinarily like to raise alarms, but those who receive TCM Turner Classic Movies on their television machines should give themselves a wonderful treat this evening (1.14.10) with "Hobson's Choice" at 11PM Eastern and 8PM on the West Coast.

On the Imdb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047094

This is the saga (1954) of an imperious, self-important, pub denizen Manchester shoe maker, Henry Hobson (Charles Laughton) and the relationship to his three daughters and his bootmaker Will Mossop (John Mills). One daughter, Maggie Hobson (Brenda de Blaize) rebels and chaos leads to redemption. Devotees of "Fawlty Towers" will appreciate the young Prunella Scales as daughter Vicky.

While my description sounds a bit dry, this is an amazingly funny movie, with every second contributing, is fantastically photographed and the score by Malcolm Arnold is noteworthy. Laughton is at his stolid best- this is one of his three of four best performances. And, for me, this is the finest work of John Mills- wonderfully subtle as he is transformed by Maggie from deferential dungeon dweller to self-respect and independence, "BY GOOM!". And of course, David Lean keeps all the balls in the air throughout- fantastic directing.

If you're wondering about the meaning of the title, "Hobson's Choice" it's an English expression that means that a person is presented with only a single option- more or less a fait accompli - take it or leave it.

See this movie!

Cheers,

Bambi B


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Topic - Classic Alert ! "Hobson's Choice" - Bambi B 12:57:15 01/14/10 (5)

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