Claude Hulbert

[lastpubrunner]

I've recently read Jack Hulbert's autobiography. He mentions in passing his brother Claude and his sister-in-law Enid Trevor.



I know that Claude was in 'My Learned Friend' with Will Hay, but beyond that know nothing about him, other than he died in Australia in the 1960s. Did Enid Trevor die in Australia ? and if so, when ?



Can anyone tell me more about this couple ?

[Davoo]

I too would like to know more about Claude, he was excellent in 'The Ghost of St Michaels' will Will Hay aswell.

[batman]

Check these out ...



Will Hay, Britain's greatest film comedian (Next Train's Gone)



Claude Hulbert



Bats.

[Joenoir]

I always thought that the partnership of Hulbert and Hay was at least on a par with that of Marriott, Moffat and Hay.

[batman]

I have not yet watched the two Hay/Hulbert films .... Harbottle recommended My Learned Friend ... is Ghost of St Michael's equally as good?



Bats.

[Windthrop]

I always thought that the partnership of Hulbert and Hay was at least on a par with that of Marriott, Moffat and Hay.

Certainly the ending on My Learned Friend (one of my Hay favorites) left me wanting more of the partnership.

[Windthrop]

I have not yet watched the two Hay/Hulbert films .... Harbottle recommended My Learned Friend ... is Ghost of St Michael's equally as good?



Bats.

GOSM is major Hay - John Laurie practising for Fraser with Hay, Hulbert and Hawtrey on top form - what more can you ask for ?

[smudge]

Have to agree - the Hulbert/Hay films most definitely leave you wanting more - Hulbert played the 'silly ass' to perfection !



Smudge

[batman]

Thanks chaps .... Mrs Bat is going out sometime next week, so it's an evening of Hay/Hulbert for me!



Bats.

[Windthrop]

I've recently read Jack Hulbert's autobiography. He mentions in passing his brother Claude and his sister-in-law Enid Trevor.



I know that Claude was in 'My Learned Friend' with Will Hay, but beyond that know nothing about him, other than he died in Australia in the 1960s. Did Enid Trevor die in Australia ? and if so, when ?



Can anyone tell me more about this couple ?

Michael Blakemore makes a brief mention of him in his recent autobio about working with him rep theatre.

[Pricey]

For Bats and anyone else interested, Ghost of St Michaels is excellent. And I don't think it spoils it to know that it has a remarkably modern and surreal ending as Will turns to Claude and say "That's the all clear, ok Claude we can go home now" or words to that effect - completely destroying the illusion and using Claude's real not character name. It's a fantastic moment and gives a sense of a real chemistry and affection between the two. Unfortunately Will Hay's health declined swiftly after My Learned Friend otherwise I'm sure he would have been happy to carry on with Claude as his foil.

[Windthrop]

For Bats and anyone else interested, Ghost of St Michaels is excellent. And I don't think it spoils it to know that it has a remarkably modern and surreal ending as Will turns to Claude and say "That's the all clear, ok Claude we can go home now" or words to that effect - completely destroying the illusion and using Claude's real not character name. It's a fantastic moment and gives a sense of a real chemistry and affection between the two. Unfortunately Will Hay's health declined swiftly after My Learned Friend otherwise I'm sure he would have been happy to carry on with Claude as his foil.

He nearly did return when his health recovered for a time and was to be directed by Marcel Varnel but the plan was scuppered when Varnel was killed in a car accident.

[orpheum]

It is surprising that Claude Hulbert is so good when Jack is so awful.

[Joenoir]

I get the feeling you don't like Jack Hulbert, orpheum, did he owe you money?!

[Windthrop]

It is surprising that Claude Hulbert is so good when Jack is so awful.

Jack Hulbert, usually in tandem with his wife Cicely Courtneidge, is dated and you can see from their cv that public enthusiasm ran out for them at the end of the 1930s in movie terms - they were so terribly british in a jaunty well bred way that was probably out of date even then. Other upper-class persona stars had difficulty in the movies after the '30s. Clive Brook was much the same. A certain sector of the population took them to their hearts and they remained stage stars to just about the end of their lives in provinces and the west end - looking little different than they did in the '30s and giving exactly the same type of performances.



Have to agree that to modern audiences Claude comes across a more accomplished performer - love his cameo in The Cardboard Cavalier.

[orpheum]

I get the feeling you don't like Jack Hulbert, orpheum, did he owe you money?!

The musical numbers i can take but the awful mugging i cant.So it is a case of grin and bear it if you want to see the musical numbers.

[Joenoir]

He nearly did return when his health recovered for a time and was to be directed by Marcel Varnel but the plan was scuppered when Varnel was killed in a car accident.

That's something I never knew, but I wonder why Varnel's death stop the film being made.

[Davoo]

When you are six feet under it's difficult for the actors to hear you shout 'action' & 'cut' !!

[Joenoir]

When you are six feet under it's difficult for the actors to hear you shout 'action' & 'cut' !!

Watch out Davoo, that wit of yours might cut you one day! Films are not abandoned simply because the director has died. Further to this, Will hadn't worked with Varnel since 1941.

[orpheum]

it was very sad that he died so comparitively young,since it has to be said that the Ealing films were amongst the best of his work particularly My Learned Friend.The Observatory that he founded is just down the road from me in Mill Hill.