Hobson's Choice (1954 film)

Master of the house I am, sometimes even the Lord in the house I am, is a British film directed by David Lean from 1954 is based on the stage comedy master of the house I am ( Original Title: Hobson 's choice ). Harold Brighouse from 1915.

Action

England at the end of the era of Queen Victoria. Hero of the film is the successful shoemaker Henry Horatio Hobson, a widower and father of three daughters. The three daughters lead the shoe store and manage the household of father, Henry, who enjoys spending time in his local pub. But sometimes he is master of the house. So he decides that the two youngest daughters Alice and Vicky who are the prettiest at the same time, to marry a man of his choice only without a dowry, while the over 30 -year-old Maggie to lead him to the household and the business. Maggie looks on their way rather with Willie Mossop, a hired in fiscal shoemaker who by his craftsmanship still has the essential role in the success of the business.

Willie is a simple fellow. He has nothing except his craft. Maggie tells Willie that she wants to marry him and together run a business with him. Willie is perplexed. But he still has a problem. He has promised the daughter of his landlady. Maggie goes to the landlady, informing them of their plans and announces the room, at the same time they worried Willie a new home. They have a row and Maggie decides a new business together with Willie build. They borrow from Mrs. Hepworth, a rich client the money.

On the night before the wedding Hobson falls into a basement and is displayed - worried about his reputation he wants to consult with Maggie. Maggie can dissolve the case so that her sisters must marry their friends and get a dowry. In return, the prosecution is dropped.

Henry Hobson is shocked by the new development and annoyed. Not only that, it 's always caring daughter is out of the house, the remaining daughters are not also at the same time able to lead the business and the household. You can not even cook. Hobson suffers and begins to drink even more than before. Willie gets Maggie reading and writing lessons and is formed into a presentable Lord.

The business of Maggie and Willie is a great success. After just one year you must repay their debts in the situation. Henry Hobson, however, forfeit more and more of drunkenness until the doctor ordered him total abstinence. Maggie consults with her ​​siblings; but since the two younger are now married himself, does not want to take care of her father. Willie Hobson offers now the partnership in to save his badly prosperous business, and Maggie would help in the household. Willie tells him that he already had all his old customers anyway, and wish the business under the name Mossop and Hobson take as long as Hobson occurs only as a silent partner. From this business acumen even Maggie is surprised, but Hobson finally agrees.

Background

The Vierakter Hobson 's Choice by Harold Brighouse from 1915 has previously been twice, in 1920 and 1931, made ​​into a film. Alexander Korda brought David Lean on the idea of ​​the piece to film again and brought the same Charles Laughton as the main character with, with whom he had his most successful films shot in the 1930s. Laughton knew the piece already, because he had played the role of Willie Mossop as 30 years earlier even on the stage. In the film version of Robert Donat was originally intended for that part, which was then replaced but excellently by John Mills. Mills notable scene in the film is his pantomime in his preparation for the wedding night.

German version

The German synchronous processing originated in 1954 in the studios of the German London Film GmbH in Hamburg under the direction of Edgar Flatau. The synchronous book authored Martin Beheim - Schwarzbach. For the equipment and Friedrich Albrecht was responsible, the average was in the hands of Waltraud Feig.

Reviews

  • " A joyous family and small-town comedy that features loving images of idiosyncratic characters with kindness and humor, which reveal themselves in the struggle for domestic power. By no means a celebrity film for Charles Laughton, who classifies himself with his acting in the excellent ensemble. " - " Encyclopedia of the international film "
  • " David Lean's adaptation of a play by Ronald Brighouse from 1915 is the third of this substance and at the same time the best ( ... ) Charles Laughton's hilarious, if slightly exaggerated representation of Henry Hobson is the focal point of this fun-filled film, the Lean since " Blithe Spirit " for the first time was an opportunity to stage a comedy cast, Photography, equipping and Malcolm Arnold's original music are all top class and give a thoroughly enjoyable work -. . thing is rather amazing in the circumstances of its creation " - Al - in: The great TV movie film lexicon. Digital Library - Special Issue (CD -ROM edition ). Direct Media, Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-89853-036-1, pp. 5686-5687

The Film Review Board Wiesbaden gave the production value the predicate.

Awards

Master of the house I won the Golden Bear at the Berlinale 1954 The audience at the Berlinale had a vote for this film. Winners decided. The film also won the 1955 British Film Academy Award: Best British Film of the Year.

1954 in film Screenplay Film score Mime artist In Which We Serve Brief Encounter Great Expectations (1946 film) Oliver Twist (1948 film) Summertime (1955 film) Lawrence of Arabia (film) Doctor Zhivago (film) Ryan's Daughter
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