Claude Noel Hulbert (25 December 1900 – 23 January 1964) was a mid-20th century English stage, radio and cinema comic actor.
Early life
Claude Hulbert was born in Fulham in West London on Christmas Day 1900. He was the younger brother of
Jack Hulbert
John Norman Hulbert (24 April 189225 March 1978) was a British actor, director, screenwriter and singer, specializing primarily in comedy productions, and often working alongside his wife (Dame) Cicely Courtneidge.
Biography
Born in Ely, Ca ...
. Like his brother he received his formal education at
Westminster School
(God Gives the Increase)
, established = Earliest records date from the 14th century, refounded in 1560
, type = Public school Independent day and boarding school
, religion = Church of England
, head_label = Hea ...
and
Caius College
Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of t ...
,
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209 and granted a royal charter by Henry III in 1231, Cambridge is the world's third oldest surviving university and one of its most pr ...
, where he was a member of the
Footlights
Cambridge University Footlights Dramatic Club, commonly referred to simply as the Footlights, is an amateur theatrical club in Cambridge, England, founded in 1883 and run by the students of Cambridge University.
History
Footlights' inaugural ...
Comedy Club as an undergraduate.
Career
He began his professional career on the English stage. His first theatrical credit was in the revue ''His Little Trip'' in the Strand Theatre in 1920. The next year he appeared in the London revue ''Fantasia''. In 1924, he was quite successful in the George Grossmith-Guy Bolton musical comedy ''Primrose'', which led to a string of musical comedy roles for him from 1925 to the 1930s, including ''Sunny'', ''Oh Kay'', ''Song of the Sea'' and ''Follow a Star''. Hulbert also was a hit on radio, thanks to his spontaneous manner of delivery, along with his nervous excitability and a stutter. In 1939, he returned to the London stage in the farce, ''Worth a Million''. Subsequently, he was seen in Cole Porter's ''Panama Hattie'' (1943).
In the 1950s, he appeared in numerous farces and in repertory theatre. In 1959, he made quite a splash as Lord Plynne in Frederick Lonsdale's ''Let Them Eat Cake''
Although popular, his motion picture career was less successful than his brother's. He began by supporting the Aldwych farceurs before being handed his first lead in a weak B-film with Renee Houston and
Binnie Barnes
Gertrude Maud Barnes (25 March 1903 – 27 July 1998), known professionally as Binnie Barnes, was an English actress whose career in films spanned from 1923 to 1973.
Early life
Barnes was born in Islington, London, the daughter of Rosa Enoy ...
, ''Their Night Out'' (1933). His most successful solo film of the mid-1930s was '' Hello Sweetheart'' (1935); like most of Hulbert's starring comedies, however, its ambition was strictly small-scale; it seemed that British studios simply didn't see him as a major star. His flagging career was helped with '' Wolf's Clothing'' (1936), which starred him as a dithering diplomat, and '' Honeymoon-Merry-Go-Round'' (1940), where he played a bumbling bridegroom who unintentionally becomes an ice-hockey star.
He became a very capable partner for
Will Hay
William Thomson Hay (6 December 1888 – 18 April 1949) was an English comedian who wrote and acted in a schoolmaster sketch that later transferred to the screen, where he also played other authority figures with comic failings. His film ''Oh ...
after the comedian decided he wanted to do without his famous "stooges",
Moore Marriott
George Thomas Moore Marriott (14 September 1885 – 11 December 1949) was an English character actor best remembered for the series of films he made with Will Hay. His first appearance with Hay was in the film '' Dandy Dick'' (1935), but he wa ...
and
Graham Moffatt
Graham Victor Harold Moffatt (6 December 1919 – 2 July 1965) was an English comedic character actor. He is best known for a number of films where he appeared with Will Hay and Moore Marriott as 'Albert': a plump cheekily insolent street-sa ...
My Learned Friend
''My Learned Friend'' is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, farce, directed by Basil Dearden with his regular collaborator, Will Hay, as the film's star in the role of William Fitch. The principal supporting roles were taken by Claude H ...
'' (1943), were the most successful of his later vehicles. Hulbert's film appearances, though, became scarcer as the 1940s wore on.
In 1951 Hulbert starred in audio recording of the play '' The Ghost Train'', which was commercially released by Decca Records (Release Catalogue No.LK4040). In 1952 he starred in the West End in the title role in '' Lord Arthur Savile's Crime'', directed by his brother Jack.
Personal life
He was married to the actress Enid Trevor.Obituary for Claude Hulbert, ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper '' The Sunday Times'' (f ...
'', 24 January 1964.
Death
Hulbert died on 23 January 1964 aged 63 in a hospital at Sydney, Australia, after having been taken ill whilst ashore during a round-the-world health cruise with his family.Jonathan Cecil ‘Hulbert, Claude Noel (1900–1964)’ ''
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...
'', Oxford University Press, 2004.
Filmography
* ''
Champagne
Champagne (, ) is a sparkling wine originated and produced in the Champagne wine region of France under the rules of the appellation, that demand specific vineyard practices, sourcing of grapes exclusively from designated places within it, ...
'' (1928)
* ''
Naughty Husbands
Naughty may refer to:
* ''Naughty'' (Chaka Khan album), 1980
* ''Naughty'' (Adamski album), 1992
* "Naughty" (Elen Levon song), 2011
* "Naughty" (Red Velvet – Irene & Seulgi song), 2020
* ''Naughty'' (film), an American film starring Walter ...
The Mayor's Nest
''The Mayor's Nest'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Claude Hulbert and Al Bowlly. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.75 A trombonist becomes mayor of a small town, but he struggles to co ...
Let Me Explain, Dear
''Let Me Explain, Dear'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Gene Gerrard and Frank Miller (1891–1950), Frank Miller and starring Gerrard, Viola Lyel and Claude Hulbert. It was adapted from the play ''A Little Bit of Fluff (play), A Litt ...
'' (1932)
* ''
Heads We Go
''Heads We Go'' (U.S. title: ''The Charming Deceiver'') is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Constance Cummings, Frank Lawton and Binnie Barnes. It was made at Elstree Studios by British International Pictures.
The ...
'' (1933)
* ''
The Song You Gave Me
''The Song You Gave Me'' is a 1933 British musical film directed by Paul L. Stein, and starring Bebe Daniels, Victor Varconi, and Frederick Lloyd. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Their Night Out
''Their Night Out'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Claude Hulbert, Renee Houston and Gus McNaughton. It was made by British International Pictures at Elstree Studios.Wood p.76 The film's sets were designed by ...
'' (1933)
* ''
Radio Parade
''Radio Parade'' is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Richard Beville and Archie de Bear and featuring an ensemble cast including Florence Desmond, Claude Hulbert, Jeanne De Casalis and the comedy double act Clapham and Dwyer. A rev ...
'' (1933)
* ''
The Girl in Possession
''The Girl in Possession'' is a 1934 British comedy film starring Laura La Plante and Henry Kendall and directed by Monty Banks, who also wrote the screenplay and featured in the film himself.
The film was a quota quickie production shot at Twi ...
Big Business
Big business involves large-scale corporate-controlled financial or business activities. As a term, it describes activities that run from "huge transactions" to the more general "doing big things". In corporate jargon, the concept is commonly ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Love at Second Sight
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the lov ...
'' (1934)
* ''
Hello, Sweetheart
''Hello, Sweetheart'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Claude Hulbert, Gregory Ratoff and Jane Carr.
The film was made by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers at the company's Teddington Studios.Wood p.86 I ...
Where's Sally?
''Where's Sally?'' is a 1936 British comedy film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Chili Bouchier, Gene Gerrard and Claude Hulbert. The film was a quota quickie production and is now believed to be lost.The Interrupted Honeymoon'' (1936)
* '' The Vulture'' (1937)
* '' It's Not Cricket'' (1937)
* '' You Live and Learn'' (1937)
* ''
Ship's Concert
''Ship's Concert'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Claude Hulbert, Joyce Kirby and Henry Kendall. It was made as a quota quickie at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p ...
Simply Terrific
''Simply Terrific'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Roy William Neill and starring Claude Hulbert, Reginald Purdell and Patricia Medina.Wood, Linda. ''British Films, 1927-1939''. British Film Institute, 1986. p.96 It was made at Teddi ...
'' (1938)
* ''
His Lordship Regrets
''His Lordship Regrets'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Claude Hulbert, Winifred Shotter, Gina Malo and Aubrey Mallalieu. Impoverished Lord Cavender pursues wealthy Mabel van Morgan only to discover himself ...
It's in the Blood
''It's in the Blood'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Gene Gerrard and starring Claude Hulbert, Lesley Brook and Max Leeds. It was made at Teddington Studios by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.Wood p.95
Cast
* Claude Hulbert a ...
Sailors Three
''Sailors Three'' (released in the US as ''Three Cockeyed Sailors'') is a 1940 British war comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Tommy Trinder, Claude Hulbert and Carla Lehmann. This was cockney music hall comedian Trinder's debut ...
'' (1940)
* ''
The Ghost of St. Michael's
''The Ghost of St. Michael's'' is a 1941 British comedy- thriller film, produced by Ealing Studios.
Will Hay, the film's star, replaced his sidekicks, Graham Moffatt and Moore Marriott, from his previous film '' Where's That Fire?'' with comed ...
'' (1941)
* ''
My Learned Friend
''My Learned Friend'' is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, farce, directed by Basil Dearden with his regular collaborator, Will Hay, as the film's star in the role of William Fitch. The principal supporting roles were taken by Claude H ...
'' (1943)
* ''
The Dummy Talks
''The Dummy Talks'' is a 1943 British crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Jack Warner, Claude Hulbert and Beryl Orde. It marked the film debut of Jack Warner.
Synopsis
Set over the course of one night, the story takes place in ...
The Ghosts of Berkeley Square
''The Ghosts of Berkeley Square'' is a 1947 British comedy film, directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer. The film is an adaptation of the 1944 novel '' No Nightingales'' by Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon, inspired b ...
'' (1947)
* ''
Under the Frozen Falls
''Under the Frozen Falls'' is a 1948 British children's film directed by Darrell Catling and starring Harold Warrender, Jacques Brown and Ray Jackson.
The original screenplay was written by Mary Cathcart Borer as a film for children. It was late ...
'' (1948)
* ''
Cardboard Cavalier
''Cardboard Cavalier'' is a 1948 British historical comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Sid Field, Margaret Lockwood and Jerry Desmonde.
It was the last film for Forde and Field. Field died of a heart attack shortly after the f ...