finrod

I think the above deserves a mention. Directed by David Lean in 1954, it has Charles Laughton ably matched by Brenda de Banzie, plus John Mills with good support in the shape of a very young Prunella Scales and Richard Wattis.

I think I have yet to see a poor film with Charles Laughton.

Joenoir

John Mills was a tad too old for the role of Willie Mossop, but he gave a good performance, and was a better choice than Robert Donat, who had been originally cast. De Banzie was outstanding and Laughton, in his last British film, was superb.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

Carmel

Hobsons choice was a great film of its time along with Great Expectations also starring Sir John Mills what great films they were great stories. I heard Great Expectations was based on a real women who lived in Dublin and was jilted on her wedding day and never went out after that i think there was a documentery on her a long time ago if memory serves me right.

Windthrop

I have never seen a 'bad' performance (excepting 'Man on the Eifel Tower' as Maigrait) but sadly Chuck had a bad patch during the forties and it was HC that revived his movie career and with the exception of 'Under Ten Flags' he spent the rest of his career in distinguished films.

Joenoir

Does anyone know how Brenda de Banzie came to be cast? She appeared to come from nowhere, but was an ideal choice for the part.

Start every day with a smile and get it over with.

ChristineCB

I don't think John Mills was 'too old' for the casting. The critical scene where he stands up straight and tall - he needed the lined-face to turn into determination, and I don't know that anyone could replace that face.

I am unfamiliar with most of Laughton's films of the '40s - few are available on DVD and he just doesn't seem to be cast very often these days.

But his HOBSON'S and WITNESS are two excellent films. WITNESS hits the TVs in the States a couple of times a year, and I'm disappointed that HOBSON'S didn't swim over to a Region-1 release. It's a favorite of everyone who's seen it.

cy_renaica

It's well up there in my pantheon. Those of you of the right age may have seen it alongside the colour film of the coronation in '53, which is why I was there at age 6+ with my parents. The pink elephants (in glorious b&w) made a lot of sense to one of 6 and long before I knew anything of Malcolm Arnold, I could hum the main tune. It's there in its place of honour and was the film I chose to watch on the news of John Mill's death, even bfore Ice Cold