Hobson's Choice (1954)

When his haughty and independent daughter (Brenda De Banzie) decides to forge her own path, the owner (Charles Laughton) of a boot shop must deal not only with her independence but marrying his prize bootsmith (John Mills). Based on the play by Harold Brighouse and directed by David Lean (SUMMERTIME). What a delight! David Lean is perhaps best remembered today for his wide screen epics (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO) and his screen adaptations of Dickens (GREAT EXPECTATIONS, OLIVER TWIST) but his occasional foray into comedy like BLITHE SPIRIT and this charmer are undervalued. Laughton as the boozing tyrant gives one of his very best performances but he's not the whole show. John Mills as the backward, servile bootmaker remade into a new man by his forceful bride is perfect and Brenda De Banzie seems born to play this role, she's that good. A real treat. With Daphne Anderson, Prunella Scales, Richard Wattis, Helen Haye and Derek Blomfield.