MR HOBBS TAKES A VACATION
US, 1962, 116 minutes, Colour.
James Stewart, Maureen O’ Hara, Fabian, John Saxon, Lauri Peters, Marie Wilson, Reginald Gardiner.
Directed by Henry Koster.
The first of three films that James Stewart made with director Henry Koster in the early sixties. Stewart had worked with Koster in the fifties with the comedy Harvey and the adaptation of Nevil Shute's No Highway in the Sky. The other two films in this trilogy are Take Her, She's Mine and Dear Brigitte.
The first two films were written by prolific screen writer-producer Nunnally Johnson. Each of the three films is popular family Americana of the early sixties - humorous, sentimental, affluent, brash and slightly superficial. Mr Hobbs is the most entertaining of the three and teams Stewart with Maureen O’ Hara. Take Her, She's Mine is the slightest and involves Stewart in an examination of the popular behaviour patterns with young teenagers in the early sixties. In Dear Brigitte the family is younger and Bill Mumy, a popular television youngster who later grew into an actor in such films as Bless the Beasts and Children and Sunshine, involves a youngster infatuated with Brigitte Bardot to whom he writes and the film ends with a visit to the famous actress. This time Glynnis Johns is the wife.
The films are light American froth but reflect the entertainment patterns of their time.
1. How enjoyable a comedy was this? How many laughs? the nature of the laughs? How much satire? how much humanity?
2. What was the quality of the humour in this film, the situation, the dialogue, characters, folksy and whimsical humour, family humour? What were the targets of the satire?
3. How American a film? The Hobbs family as typical Americans? Typical behaviour and relationships, to be laughed at? A picture of American society at work, holidays, attitudes? How optimistic a picture of American society did the film give? As compared to the society in other countries?
4. How typical American was Mr Hobbs? A typical James Stewart role? his niceness and naivety, old fashioned, loving? His ability to cope with children, maids, son-in-law? How good a father was he? His relationship to son and daughter, helping Katie at the dance, with Danny when they were lost? How good a man was Roger Hobbs?
5. How typical an American woman was Mrs. Hobbes? Maureen O’ Hara’s style, her support of Roger, her love, managing the family, helping Katie at the dance?
6. How typical a boy was Danny? Watching TV, his relationship with his father, their understanding one another in the fog, allowing Dad to watch TV with him? How did this compare with the relationship to Katie? Her worries about her teeth, boyfriends, her father paying someone to dance with her? The blossoming friendships? Susan and her family problems and the help given by the parents? Did they interfere too much or did they handle the situations well? How typical were these family relationships and problems?
7. How did Joe give a romantic touch to the film? Songs and glamour? Was this realistic? Did It add to the enjoyment of the film? The character of Byron and adding the same tone of romance?
8. How did this contrast with the Turners? The purpose of their introduction into the film? Comedy? The bird-watching, the long, walk for Mr Hobbs, the bathroom situation, the drinking? Was this good humour for this film?
9. How successful was the anecdote style of the film? Did it go on too long or was it just right and enjoyable?
10. How well did the film combine sentiment, heart-warming situations and pre-suppositions about family life and American society?
