Biography
In films from 1930, Scottish character-actor Hay Petrie usually showed up in eccentric bit roles. Petrie's larger film assignments included the unspeakable Quilp in
The Old Curiosity Shop (1936) and the mentally defective John Aloysius Evan in 21 Days Together (1937). Many consider his portrayal of the MacLaggan in
The Ghost Goes West (1936) to be the actor's finest hour and a half. Active until his death, Hay Petrie's last role of note was Uncle Pumblechook in
Great Expectations (1946). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide