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7.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Hobson's Choice remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-fashioned British comedies where people talk fast and act a bit dramatic, then yes. It is definitely worth a look on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
People who love stories about underdogs winning will really enjoy this one. But if you can't stand scratchy audio or movies that feel like a filmed stage play, you might want to skip it.
Henry Hobson is a total nightmare of a father. He spends half his life at the Moonrakers pub and the other half yelling at his daughters about how they don't need husbands. 🍺
He is basically trying to keep them as free labor for his boot shop. It is pretty selfish when you think about it.
James Harcourt plays Hobson with this constant huffing and puffing that makes you want to poke him with a stick. He is so loud and grumpy.
Then there is Maggie. She is the oldest daughter and she does not take any of his nonsense. 👠
She decides she is going to marry Will Mossop. Will is the guy who actually makes the boots, and he is played by Frank Pettingell as this very shy, almost scared little man.
The scene where Maggie basically tells Will he is going to marry her is hilarious. He looks like he wants to hide under a pile of leather scraps.
It is much different than the vibe in something like The Forbidden Path. This is way more about the gritty reality of living in a dusty shop in the 1800s.
The sets are actually pretty cool. You can almost smell the leather and the shoe polish through the screen. 👞
I noticed that the shoes they make look incredibly heavy. I don't know how anyone walked in those without getting tired after five minutes.
There is a lot of focus on the social classes back then. Hobson thinks he is a big deal, but he is really just a drunk who is lucky his daughters are smart.
The way the movie handles the wedding of the younger sisters is a bit rushed. It feels like the movie forgot about them for a while and then suddenly remembered they needed endings too.
Some of the acting is a bit over the top. Like, people wave their arms around a lot when they are angry. It's very theatrical.
But that is just how movies were back then, I guess. It’s not like the weird silent style you see in The Golem, but it still feels a bit stiff.
The middle part of the movie slows down quite a bit. There is a lot of talking about business and money that got a little boring for me.
I found myself looking at the background of the shop more than the actors. There are so many tiny details on the shelves that nobody mentions.
One thing that was weird was the music. It just sort of starts and stops at random times. 🎶
It doesn't always match what is happening on screen. Like, a happy tune will play while Hobson is being a complete jerk to his family.
The ending is very satisfying though. Seeing Hobson realize he is no longer the boss is pure gold.
It’s not a masterpiece, but it has a lot of heart. It feels like a real story about real people, even if they are a bit loud.
If you've seen other old stuff like What Every Woman Wants, you will recognize this kind of humor. It's very dry and very British.
The 1954 version of this movie is more famous, but this one has a certain roughness that I liked. It feels less polished, which makes the characters feel more human.
I did find a few parts where the editing was a bit jumpy. Like a character would be standing in one spot and then suddenly be across the room in the next shot. ✂️
It didn't ruin the movie, but it made me laugh a little. It’s those small mistakes that make these old films feel alive.
Overall, Hobson's Choice is a solid pick if you want to see a smart woman take charge of her life. Maggie is a total boss before that was even a saying.
Just be prepared for a lot of talk about boots. So many boots.
I’d give it a watch if you’re bored of modern stuff that tries too hard to be cool. This movie knows exactly what it is. ✌️
IMDb —
1922
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