David Hay Petrie (16 July 1895 – 30 July 1948) was a Scottish actor noted for playing eccentric characters, among them Quilp in ''

The Old Curiosity Shop ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' is the fourth novel by English author Charles Dickens; being one of his two novels (the other being ''Barnaby Rudge'') published along with short stories in his weekly serial ''Master Humphrey's Clock'', from 1840 t ...

'' (1934), the McLaggen in '' The Ghost Goes West'' (1935) and Uncle Pumblechook in ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...

'' (1946).McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. p. 595; Hay Petrie was born in

Dundee Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

Angus, Scotland Angus (; ) is one of the 32 Local government in Scotland, local government council areas of Scotland, and a Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City (council area), Dundee City and Per ...

, the son of Jessie and David Mathew Petrie, a decorator.David Hay Petrie in London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938 He went to Harris Academy and later attended

St Andrew's University The University of St Andrews (, ; abbreviated as St And in post-nominals) is a public university in St Andrews, Scotland. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland and, f ...

, where he first discovered the stage. In 1915, he joined the

Royal Scots The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment line infantry, of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England ...

(Lothian Regiment) as a second lieutenant. After the war, he studied with Rosina Filippi, joining the Old Vic Company appearing as " Starveling" in ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a Comedy (drama), comedy play written by William Shakespeare in about 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One s ...

'' in 1920. In 1924 Albert de Courville brought Hay Petrie into

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

with ''The Looking Glass'', in which he sang "Oh Shakespeare you're the best of all but you can't fill the fourteen shilling stall". His first film part was '' Many Waters'' in 1931. In 1928 he married Muriel Eleanor Gwendolen Stevens (1904-). During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he was an ARP warden. Hay Petrie struggled with

alcoholism Alcoholism is the continued drinking of alcohol despite it causing problems. Some definitions require evidence of dependence and withdrawal. Problematic use of alcohol has been mentioned in the earliest historical records. The World He ...

, but was much loved by audiences and players. He was never more at home than when he was playing parts from the classical theatre, and for many he was the Shakespearean Clown of the early 1920s. He died in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

in July 1948, aged 53.

Filmography

* ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict (which may be heightened by a viol ...

'' (1930) as Scruffy (film debut) * '' Night Birds'' (1931) as Scotty * '' Many Waters'' (1931) as Director * ''

Carmen ''Carmen'' () is an opera in four acts by the French composer Georges Bizet. The libretto was written by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée. The opera was first performed by the O ...

'' (1931) as Remenado * '' Help Yourself'' (1932) as Sam Short * '' The Lucky Number'' (1932) as The Photographer * ''

The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British biographical drama film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur ...

'' (1933) as The King's Barber (uncredited) * ''

The Wandering Jew The Wandering Jew (occasionally referred to as the Eternal Jew, a calque from German ) is a mythical Immortality, immortal man whose legend began to spread in Europe in the 13th century. In the original legend, a Jew who taunted Jesus on the way ...

'' (1933) as Palermo Merchant (uncredited) * ''

Song of the Plough A song is a musical composition performed by the human voice. The voice often carries the melody (a series of distinct and fixed pitches) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs have a structure, such as the common ABA form, and are usuall ...

'' (1933) as Farmhand * '' Crime on the Hill'' (1933) as Jevons * '' Red Wagon'' (1933) as Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Matinee Idol'' (1933) as Mr. Clappit * '' Colonel Blood'' (1934) as Mr. Edwards * ''

The Queen's Affair ''The Queen's Affair'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Fernand Gravey, Muriel Aked and Edward Chapman. An Eastern European President falls in love with the Queen whom he had previously dep ...

'' (1934) as Revolutionary * '' Nell Gwynn'' (1934) as French Ambassador (uncredited) * '' The Private Life of Don Juan'' (1934) as Golden Pheasant Manager (uncredited) * '' Blind Justice'' (1934) as Harry * ''

'' (1934) as Quilp * '' Peg of Old Drury'' (1935) as Mr. Rich * '' The Loves of Madame Dubarry'' (1935) as Cascal * '' Koenigsmark'' (1935) as Professor (uncredited) * '' Moscow Nights'' (1935) as Spy * '' The Ghost Goes West'' (1935) as The McLaggen * '' Invitation to the Waltz'' (1935) as Periteau * '' Forget Me Not'' (1936) as New York Theatre Manager * '' Men of Yesterday'' (1936) * '' The House of the Spaniard'' (1936) as Orlando * '' Hearts of Humanity'' (1936) as Alf Hooper * ''

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

'' (1936) as Jeweller (uncredited) * '' Treachery on the High Seas'' (1936) as Brainie * '' Conquest of the Air'' (1936) as Tiberius Cavallo * '' Secret Lives'' (1937) as Robert Pigeon * '' Knight Without Armour'' (1937) as Station Master * '' The Last Barricade'' (1938) as Captain MacTavish * '' Keep Smiling'' (1938) as Jack * '' A Spot of Bother'' (1938) as McTavish the Golf Club Official (uncredited) * ''

Q Planes ''Q Planes'' (known as ''Clouds Over Europe'' in the United States) is a 1939 British comedy film, comedy spy film starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson. Olivier and Richardson were a decade into their fifty-year friends ...

'' (1939) as Stage Door Keeper * '' Trunk Crime'' (1939) as Old Dan * '' The Four Feathers'' (1939) as Mahdi Interpreter (uncredited) * '' Jamaica Inn'' (1939) as Sam - Sir Humphrey's Groom * '' The Spy in Black'' (1939) as Engineer * ''

Inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a cor ...

'' (1939) as Norman Neale K.C. * ''

21 Days ''21 Days'' (also known as ''21 Days Together'', ''The First and the Last'' and ''Three Weeks Together'') is a 1940 British drama film based on the short 1919 play ''The First and the Last (play), The First and the Last'' by John Galsworthy. It ...

'' (1940) as Evan * ''

Contraband Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") is any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It comprises goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes of the leg ...

'' (1940) as Axel Skold/Erik Skold * '' Crimes at the Dark House'' (1940) as Dr. Isidor Fosco * '' Spy for a Day'' (1940) as Mr. Britt. * '' Pastor Hall'' (1940) as Nazi Pastor * '' Ten Days in Paris'' (1940) as Benoit * ''

Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

'' (1940) as Minesweeper Skipper * '' The Thief of Bagdad'' (1940) as Astrologer * '' Freedom Radio'' (1941) as Sebastian * '' The Ghost of St. Michael's'' (1941) as Procurator Fiscal * '' Quiet Wedding'' (1941) as Railway Porter (uncredited) * '' Spellbound'' (AKA ' Passing Clouds ') 1941) as Mr. Cathcart * '' Turned Out Nice Again'' (1941) as Drunk (uncredited) * '' Cottage to Let'' (1941) as Dr. Truscott * ''

Rush Hour A rush hour (American English, British English) or peak hour (Australian English, Indian English) is a part of the day during which traffic congestion on roads and crowding on public transport is at its highest. Normally, this happens twice e ...

'' (1941, Short) as Bus Conductor (uncredited) * '' This Was Paris'' (1942) as Popinard, Amusement Park Owner * '' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (1942) as The Burgomaster * '' Hard Steel'' (1942) as Mr. Kissack * '' They Flew Alone'' (1942) as Old General * '' Those Kids from Town'' (1942) as Ted Roberts * '' Sabotage at Sea'' (1942) as Talkative sailor at table * '' The Great Mr. Handel'' (1942) as Phineas * ''

Escape to Danger ''Escape to Danger'' is a 1943 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury and starring Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak and Karel Stepanek. Plot During the Second World War a British schoolteacher working in Denmark is caug ...

'' (1943) (uncredited) * '' Schweik's New Adventures'' (1943) as Gestapo man at inn * ''

They Met in the Dark ''They Met in the Dark'' (also known as ''Dark End'' and ''Spionagering M'' ) is a 1943 British comedy thriller film directed by Karel Lamač and starring James Mason, Joyce Howard and Edward Rigby. The screenplay concerns a cashiered Royal N ...

'' (1943) as Waiter (uncredited) * '' The Shipbuilders'' (1943) as Worker in Pagan's Office (uncredited) * ''Battle for Music'' (1943) as Official Receiver * '' On Approval'' (1944) as Hotelkeeper * '' A Canterbury Tale'' (1944) as Woodcock * '' Kiss the Bride Goodbye'' (1945) as Fraser * '' For You Alone'' (1945) as Sir Henry Markham (uncredited) * '' Waltz Time'' (1945) as Minister of War * '' The Voice Within'' (1946) as Fair Owner * '' Night Boat to Dublin'' (1946) as Station Master * '' Under New Management'' (1946) as The Bridegroom * '' The Laughing Lady'' (1946) as Tom * ''

'' (1946) as Uncle Pumblechook * '' The Red Shoes'' (1948) as Boisson * ''

The Dark Road ''There is No Escape'' (also known as ''The Dark Road'' and ''The Thurston Story'') is a 1948 British second feature ('B') drama film directed by Alfred J. Goulding and starring Farnham Baxter, Cyril Chamberlain, Sydney Bromley and Stanley Thurs ...

'' (1948) * '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948) as Clock Winder * ''

Noose A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without untying the knot. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post, pole, or animal but only where the end is in a position that the loop can ...

'' (1948) as Barber * '' The Guinea Pig'' (1948) as Peck * ''

The Monkey's Paw "The Monkey's Paw" is a Horror fiction, horror short story by English author W. W. Jacobs. It first appeared in ''Harper's Monthly'' in September, 1902, and was reprinted in his third collection of short stories, ''The Lady of the Barge'', late ...

'' (1948) as Grimshaw, Curio Shopkeeper * '' The Queen of Spades'' (1949) as Herman's servant (final film)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrie, Hay 1895 births 1948 deaths Scottish male film actors 20th-century Scottish male actors Male actors from Dundee People educated at Harris Academy British Army personnel of World War I Royal Scots officers