Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
Directed by Henry Koster

Film Review

James Stewart is on cracking form in this rambling but generally entertaining comedy, which remains one of his most popular films.  Although, by the late 1950s, Stewart was generally better known as a dramatic actor, appearing mostly in westerns, he had considerable talent as a comic performer, as his previous films The Philadelphia Story (1940) and Bell Book and Candle (1958) amply demonstrate.  Based on Edward Streeter's novel of the same title, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation proved to be a hit both at home and abroad and won its lead actor the prestigious Silver Bear award at the 1962 Berlin International Film Festival.  Here, Stewart is effectively partnered with a vivacious Maureen O'Hara, their first and most enjoyable on-screen pairing.

Whilst the film struggles a little for the laughs in places and does get a tad mushy around the mid-point as Hobbs tries to find a playmate for his chronically shy daughter, the abundance of gags and Stewart's endearing portrayal of a father coping with a series of family crises keep the audience amused.  The best jokes are reserved for the last two reels, which include the hilarious spectacle of John McGiver teaching Stewart the correct way to walk whilst bird watching and an even more hilarious bathroom calamity in which Stewart is served up a nice helping of forbidden fruit whilst trapped in a steamy bathroom with McGiver's alluring wife.  After this, James Stewart featured in two more popular comedies: Take Her, She's Mine (1963) and Dear Brigitte (1965).

Film Synopsis

One summer, Mr Hobbs, a hardworking banker, is looking forward to a relaxing holiday with his wife in some exotic clime.  What he gets is something very different - the holiday from Hell with his huge extended family.  The vacation gets off to an unpromising start when he, his wife and their two youngest children, Danny and Katey, discover that their holiday home is a rundown beach shack which is barely standing.  Much to Danny's chagrin, there is no aerial for his television and the hot water is supplied by a system that may well pre-date the Industrial Revolution.  Things go from bad to worse when the Hobbs's grown up daughters turn up with their husbands and children.  When his unemployed son-in-law Stan runs off, apparently having broken up with his wife, Mr Hobbs is persuaded to entertain a potential boss, but only seems to make matters worse when he is trapped in the bathroom with the latter's wife...