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Will Hay
Every British comic actor that followed Will Hay owes Hay a debt of gratitude - for it was Hay who defined the modern essence of British comedy. Working closely with Hay's family, Graham Rinaldi's definitive tribute to the respected comic actor, takes a close look into Hay's on and off-screen personae. Drawing upon Hay's own writings; - newspaper articles, notes from his astronomy observations and pilot's logbooks and extracts from his unfinished and previously unpublished autobiography I Enjoyed Every Minute - the book gives a unique insight into Hay's childhood, his continuous thirst for knowledge and his passion for aviation, astronomy and comedy.This book is illustrated throughout with previously unpublished photographs from Hay's family albums including a rare photograph of Hay with Amy Johnson, plus memorabilia from his performing career. Extensive research into Hay's stage work includes extracts from his original Fourth Form at St Michael's sketches, The Will Hay Radio Programme and, for the first time, from all of his revue and variety shows including Nosey Knows and Moonstruck for Fred Karno.
448 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 7, 2025
I love Will Hays old movies. They were a great way to pass the time in the seventies, when it was wet and cold outside.
This biography covers his early life in Manchester etc and working the variety halls to his film career.
Most things in the book I already knew including his astronomy hobby. It was also filled with the reviews of his films from the newspapers of the time. I found these to be monotonous and page filling. Not a bad read but nothing to write home about.
You’re wasting your time!
This biography covers his early life in Manchester etc and working the variety halls to his film career.
Most things in the book I already knew including his astronomy hobby. It was also filled with the reviews of his films from the newspapers of the time. I found these to be monotonous and page filling. Not a bad read but nothing to write home about.
You’re wasting your time!
December 29, 2019
I discovered Will Hay thanks to the BBC TV Saturday morning and Friday evening slots that were, decades ago, the source of education in the glory days of film and comedy. The comedy of Will Hay has a timelessness and innocence which makes it to an extent immortal. Doubtless today there are many criticisms that could be leveled at Hay's work but the same applies to the political correctness, or otherwise, of anything from that era. As well as being great humour they also capture something of the social relations of the time and stock scenes capture some great history.
I am often in two minds whether I want, or need, to know anything about artists in any field who impress me for fear that what I find might taint my appreciation of their work. However, my curiosity about Will Hay and his rise to filmstardom got the better of me. Graham Rinaldi is to be congratulated for producing such an excellent study of Will Hay both the man and his character(s). The work is both biographical of Hay and of his Music Hall/radio/film career. I am pleased that the focus of the book is very much on his professional work - which to me is the main interest. However, Rinaldi also provides something of the private Will Hay, especially his lifelong and main interest in astronomy (posthumously having an asteroid named after him, 3125 Hay, in 1982), as well as an early interest in flying (a close friend of Amelia Earhart) and a builder of clocks and model railways.
It is interesting how many great comedians appear to have really only been comedians in their day job with many leading quite sad, lonely or troubled lives in private. The degree to which this was true of Will is perhaps not entirely clear due to his very private nature but it seems humour was something he kept largely for work. The thing I found striking was the degree to which humor for Will Hay was a profession rather than a way of life. His meticulous and strict approach to the production of humour actually is strikingly humourless - but obviously it worked. Hay believed that "All good comedy is based upon character, and not upon gags, or physical fooling, or fictional conventions like the 'silly-ass' stage puppet" and "..for this reason, it's appeal reaches beyond the bound of nationality; and I believe something of this unfailing naturalness exists in all worthwhile music-hall comedians". It certainly comes across in his film output.
For a man who went from smoking brown paper when he couldn't afford a penny for Woodbines to having a chauffeur driven Rolls he did not do too badly and the impression I get is he worked hard for it (and was then pretty good at looking after his pennies). That said he did not seem to forget where he came from and continued to lead a private and unfilmstar like life, while also seeing it as something of a duty to give something back by supporting the institutions that assisted others in the trade, his commitment to the war effort and to supporting hunger relief (something he had first hand experience of).
The book also fleshes out some of those who worked with and alongside Will himself. While towards most Will maintained what might be called a "professional distance" (including relatives who worked alongside him to whom he certainly showed not favouritism, nor showered with praise) most seem to have valued the opening he gave them and the learning process they experienced with him - be they writers or fellow thespians. The rollcall of names of those who at sometime met or worked alongside Will is quite a who's who of British comedy and his influence on the development of acts and comedy features, both contemporary to him and posthumously, is not forgotten.
A very rewarding read.
I am often in two minds whether I want, or need, to know anything about artists in any field who impress me for fear that what I find might taint my appreciation of their work. However, my curiosity about Will Hay and his rise to filmstardom got the better of me. Graham Rinaldi is to be congratulated for producing such an excellent study of Will Hay both the man and his character(s). The work is both biographical of Hay and of his Music Hall/radio/film career. I am pleased that the focus of the book is very much on his professional work - which to me is the main interest. However, Rinaldi also provides something of the private Will Hay, especially his lifelong and main interest in astronomy (posthumously having an asteroid named after him, 3125 Hay, in 1982), as well as an early interest in flying (a close friend of Amelia Earhart) and a builder of clocks and model railways.
It is interesting how many great comedians appear to have really only been comedians in their day job with many leading quite sad, lonely or troubled lives in private. The degree to which this was true of Will is perhaps not entirely clear due to his very private nature but it seems humour was something he kept largely for work. The thing I found striking was the degree to which humor for Will Hay was a profession rather than a way of life. His meticulous and strict approach to the production of humour actually is strikingly humourless - but obviously it worked. Hay believed that "All good comedy is based upon character, and not upon gags, or physical fooling, or fictional conventions like the 'silly-ass' stage puppet" and "..for this reason, it's appeal reaches beyond the bound of nationality; and I believe something of this unfailing naturalness exists in all worthwhile music-hall comedians". It certainly comes across in his film output.
For a man who went from smoking brown paper when he couldn't afford a penny for Woodbines to having a chauffeur driven Rolls he did not do too badly and the impression I get is he worked hard for it (and was then pretty good at looking after his pennies). That said he did not seem to forget where he came from and continued to lead a private and unfilmstar like life, while also seeing it as something of a duty to give something back by supporting the institutions that assisted others in the trade, his commitment to the war effort and to supporting hunger relief (something he had first hand experience of).
The book also fleshes out some of those who worked with and alongside Will himself. While towards most Will maintained what might be called a "professional distance" (including relatives who worked alongside him to whom he certainly showed not favouritism, nor showered with praise) most seem to have valued the opening he gave them and the learning process they experienced with him - be they writers or fellow thespians. The rollcall of names of those who at sometime met or worked alongside Will is quite a who's who of British comedy and his influence on the development of acts and comedy features, both contemporary to him and posthumously, is not forgotten.
A very rewarding read.
January 2, 2021
A well written book a but the star of the 1930's & 40's. Full of anecdotes of how his career moved from the music halls into films. He was also in Fred Karno's Comic Troupe along with such luminaries as Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin, though unlike them he never broke into the American market. Maybe his humour was just abit too British!
Its a great read.
Its a great read.
March 13, 2021
I’ve just finished reading this excellent book by Graham Rinaldi. A must for all Will Hay fans. The voices of Will, Harbottle and Albert sing from every page. The detail of Will’s private life and his mission to elevate the craft of comedy is truly enlightening. If you can find a copy, BUY IT, you won’t regret it!
September 15, 2013
So far, I am enjoyed this biography of comedian Will Hay. To me, a new book on this unfairly forgotten comedian has been long overdue. The last biography to be published was back in 1978.
The structure of this biography is what makes it stand out: Graham Rinaldi has made a huge effort in his research and has uncovered all kinds of details regarding Will Hay's early years and his career in the British music halls.
If the latter sections of he book are just as good, then I would consider this volume to be the perfect way of introducing Will Hay to a new audience.
The structure of this biography is what makes it stand out: Graham Rinaldi has made a huge effort in his research and has uncovered all kinds of details regarding Will Hay's early years and his career in the British music halls.
If the latter sections of he book are just as good, then I would consider this volume to be the perfect way of introducing Will Hay to a new audience.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews