Hobson's Choice

1953 - Dir: David Lean (1hr 40mins)
Shown at The FeckenOdeon on April 24th, 2010
It was Alexander Korda who suggested Harold Brighouse's 1915 stage comedy "Hobson's Choice" to David Lean as a possible film project. Korda had been approached by the screenwriting team, Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, who were developing a screen adaptation. Korda bought the screen rights from under them and offered the project to David Lean.
Charles Laughton had already made several successful films for Korda before he was offered Hobson, a role he had actually played on stage as a teenager in his native Scarborough. He was the first real international star that David Lean had worked with up to that time. Korda knew that Laughton could be difficult and obsessive, but realised he would be perfect for the outsized character and told the actor that the part had been written for him. Laughton got on famously with Lean, often socialising with the director after hours, and he spoke of the role of Hobson as one of his favourite screen performances.... but the filming was far from untroubled. Robert Donat was originally cast in the role of boot-maker Willie Mossop but was in ill health and was forced to drop out (replaced by John Mills). Laughton threw a fit, claiming he had only agreed to the film to work with his old friend and that the production was thus in breach of contract. Korda countered by threatening Laughton with a scandal, which would reveal the actor's well-concealed private life (he was homosexual, which was then illegal). Laughton returned to work but remained furious. He didn’t like his accommodation, was unhappy with playing so many drunk scenes and he loathed his co-star, Brenda De Banzie, a stage actress with only a few films to her credit - the feeling was mutual! The off screen fireworks never detract from this most professional of productions. There’s fine playing from a distinguished cast (including a few faces more familiar from the small screen), a brilliant score by William Walton and meticulous craftsmanship throughout.

• This is David Lean’s last film shot in black and white. Jack Hilyard’s rich monochrome photography is often regarded as the very best ever achieved.
• The exterior scenes were shot in Salford. The Corporation had cleaned up the canalside location when they heard that filming was to take place. The crew took great delight in dirtying it all down again with copious quantities of rubbish and detergent powder.