Everyone remembers David Lean's near-perfect 1954 film version of Harold Brighouse's 1915 play Hobson's Choice -- but can the same be said for the first talkie version, filmed in 1931 (itself a remake of a 1920 silent)? James Harcourt stars as Hobson, a domineering, whiskey-loving bootmaker who insists upon telling everyone around him how to manage their lives. Finally rebelling against Hobson is his headstrong "ugly duckling" daughter Maggie (Viola Lyel), who all but strong-arms her dad's chief assistant Willie Mossop (John Mills) into marriage. Combining Willie's boot-making skills and her own inherent business acumen, Maggie sets up her own shop, and soon forces the nonplused Hobson into a merger on her terms. In addition to the 1954 remake, Hobson's Choice was filmed for television in 1983, and served as the basis for the Broadway musical Walking Happy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi