Hobson's Choice (1931 film)

Hobson's Choice
Directed by	Thomas Bentley
Written by	Frank Launder
Based on	Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse
Produced by	John Maxwell
Starring	James Harcourt Viola Lyel Frank Pettingell
Cinematography	Walter J. Harvey
Production company	British International Pictures
Distributed by	Wardour Films
Release date	2 October 1931 (1931-10-02)
Running time	65 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Hobson's Choice is a 1931 British comedy drama film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring James Harcourt, Viola Lyel, Frank Pettingell and Herbert Lomas. ^[1] Based on the 1916 play Hobson's Choice by Harold Brighouse, it follows the tale of a coarse bootshop owner who becomes outraged when his eldest daughter decides to marry a meek cobbler. It was produced by the leading British company of the time, British International Pictures, at their studios in Elstree.

The film is missing from the BFI National Archive, and is listed as one of the British Film Institute's "75 Most Wanted" lost films. ^[2] An earlier silent film version of the play had been released in 1920.

Cast

• James Harcourt as Hobson
• Viola Lyel as Maggie Hobson
• Frank Pettingell as Will Mossop
• Belle Chrystall as Vicky Hobson
• Jay Laurier as Tubby Wadlow
• Joan Maude as Alice Hobson
• Amy Veness as Mrs. Hepworth
• Reginald Bach as Albert Prosser
• Basil Moss as Freddy Beenstock
• Herbert Lomas as Jim Heeler
• Kathleen Harrison as Ada Figgins

References

1. "Hobson's Choice". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
2. "Hobson's Choice / BFI Most Wanted". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2014.

Bibliography

• Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
• Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927-1939. British Film Institute, 1986.

External links

• Hobson's Choice at IMDb