Will Hay

No it isn't Monday and this is not the film of the week spot, but something to watch on a quiet Sunday while the house is empty and the girls are away to make me giggle. Many moons ago someone brought me a box set of films staring an actor known as Will Hay. The films date back to the mid nineteen thirties until just after the second world war and even today they are a treat to watch, which I guess has made it a present that has given me lots of pleasure.

Will Hay himself is rather an interesting character in there was more to him than being on the radio and staring in films. In fact he was one of the leading amateur astronomers of his time and back in nineteen thirty three discovered the white spot on Saturn shortly after becoming a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. But that was only one of his many sides, as he was one of the first private pilots in Britain and he gave lessons to the famous female pilot Amy Johnson. And finally before becoming an actor he was a translator speaking fluently in French, German, Latin, Italian, Norwegian and Afrikaans.

It is for his acting roles he is remembered for these days and the legacy he left us is his films. A whole string of comedies made as only the English knew how back then. He lead the way in a golden age playing a pompous and incompetent authority figures which inspired a generation that followed into the British cinema. Probably remembered by most for his role as a school master in films like "Boys will be Boys" he took on a number of other roles including a station master, fireman and police man. All the films are funny and bring a smile to the face if not a hearty laugh.

I'm really looking forward to watching a couple of them today and I will be starting with "Oh, Mr Porter" where he plays the role of a station master, the film I like the best. If you have never seen any of Will Hay's films then seek them out. They are still worth watching.