vladpyre

Does anybody know much about the life of Hay Petrie? In particular did he marry or have family? Also how did he die? He wasn't really that old - was he ill or was it sudden? Cheers :)

penfold

No, but he was a terrific actor, an inveterate scene-stealer, and one of those actors I have never seen give a bad performance. Michael Powell kept casting him....always a good sign....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

vladpyre

Very true Penfold, he was always memorable. Do you have a favourite role of his?

Steve Crook

Mine would probably be the dual role as the Skold brothers in Contraband.

Or possibly as The McLaggen in The Ghost Goes West

Steve

penfold

Two....in 21 Days (released 1940 but filmed pre-war IIRC) as the suicidal defrocked priest who pleads guilty to a murder he didn't commit, and steals the film from Olivier and Leigh !!.....and Suspense, an early sound film set in the mud of Flanders, where he plays a veteran infantryman (Scruffy??) somewhere between the Old Bill of Bruce Bairnsfather, and Private Baldrick....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

batman

21 Days is quite a good film. I believe it was started in 1938 with a different actress in the Leigh role. but was put on hold when the producers realised how big a star Leigh was becoming via GWTW. When she became available she was quickly teamed with Larry and subtle script changes were made to emphasise the love story angle over the courtroom scenes. Olivier's character was even renamed Larry. Several scenes were re-shot. You are right about Hay Petrie stealing the film .... he is excellent and, although she looks stunning, Viv does nothing with the part and Larry is as wooden as yer old wassernames.

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

cornershop15

Especially for new member CatherineB,
here is Hay's entry in The Illustrated
Directory of Film Character Actors:


PETRIE, Hay
(David H. Petrie) 1895-1948
Short, scuttling Scottish actor who
specialized in eccentric characteriz-
ations.

In his element as The MacLaggan in
The Ghost Goes West, although
probably his biggest role was as the
avaracious Quilp in the 1934 version
of Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop.

Otherwise cast as an assortment of
tiny terrors, from stagedoor-keepers
to spies, who could give anyone as
good as they got in the verbal stakes.

When you understand the past, the confusion of the present becomes clearer - John Betjeman.

penfold

Thanks Cornershop, but that I feel that entry really underrates him. If I see him in a cast list, I know he will lift a film, sometimes, but not always a comic reief.....for instance, in The Spy In Black, as the Ships Engineer on the ferry perpetually complaining that his engines need a refit and are being overtaxed.....he doesn't quite say 'The Engines canna take it Captain !!' but it's very close...

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

orpheum

For once i totally agree with you Penfold.Whenever i see his name in the cast list i know that somewhere in the film will be featured this great character actor.

Welcome To Highbury The Home Of Football

Chevyman

I've just watched him as Dr Truscott in "Cottage To Let" (1941). Fine performance

"Don't interrupt Pike or you'll be sent home!"

Harbottle

I must agree with those praising HP! Always looked forward to seeing him appear, and I thought he was especially chilling in Noose (1948).

CaptainWaggett

Obituary from The Times 2/8/1948

penfold

Oh yes, I can just see him as Sancho Panza.....
Am I the only one here that has seen him in Suspense ?? Superb performance.....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steve Crook

As I mentioned above, I really like him in Contraband (1940) where he plays the two Danish brothers. One is the first officer on the ship that's docked (been detained) at Folkstone, the other is the owner of a Danish restaurant in London.

Hay is surrounded by big tough Danes (Vikings) but he's the toughest one there. He also gets some good comic routines going with the stars Conrad Veidt & Valerie Hobson and with other character actors like Esma Cannon

Steve

Nick Dando

I like him as the pompous Burgomaster in One of Our Aircraft is Missing, gradually realising that his "naughty" son, Cornelius, is actually a hero.

By the way how does one pronounce his surname? Is it Pet-ree or Peet-ree?

Nick