Hay Petrie's film career only lasted twenty years yet he managed to pack into it over eighty films. There have been a few character actors who have made more films, but probably none have managed to be in so many solid gold classics.
He was born in Dundee and came to theatre through student drama at St Andrews. After war service with the Royal Scots he trained under Rosina Filippi and joined the Old Vic in 1920. He found his niche in Shakespearian comedy.
Talkies beckoned and he started his film career with Suspense, a thriller set in the trenches of WWI. He soon found his place in casting directors' thoughts as the inconsequential little man - a little prissy, a little sharp. Yet within those limits he managed to create a fine gallery of performances. He also managed a handful of more bravura performances such as Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop and Dr Fosco in Crimes at the Dark House, Tod Slaughter's take in The Woman in White.
| 1930 | Suspense |
| 1930 | Night Birds |
| 1931 | Many Waters |
| 1932 | The Lucky Number |
| 1932 | Help Yourself |
| 1933 | Song of the Plough |
| 1933 | Matinee Idol |
| 1933 | Daughters of Today |
| 1933 | The Private Life of Henry VIII |
| 1933 | The Wandering Jew |
| 1933 | Red Wagon |
| 1933 | Crime on the Hill |
| 1934 | Colonel Blood |
| 1934 | Blind Justice |
| 1934 | The Queen's Affair |
| 1934 | The Private Life of Don Juan |
| 1934 | Nell Gwyn |
| 1934 | The Old Curiosity Shop |
| 1935 | Peg of Old Drury |
| 1935 | I Give My Heart |
| 1935 | Koenigsmark |
| 1935 | Moscow Nights |
| 1935 | The Ghost Goes West |
| 1936 | Hearts of Humanity |
| 1936 | Men of Yesterday |
| 1936 | Invitation to the Waltz |
| 1936 | Rembrandt |
| 1936 | The House of the Spaniard |
| 1936 | Forget Me Not |
| 1936 | Treachery on the High Seas |
| 1936 | Conquest of the Air |
| 1937 | Secret Lives |
| 1937 | Knight Without Armour |
| 1938 | The Last Barricade |
| 1938 | A Spot of Bother |
| 1938 | Keep Smiling |
| 1939 | Q Planes |
| 1939 | The Spy in Black |
| 1939 | The Four Feathers |
| 1939 | Trunk Crime |
| 1939 | Jamaica Inn |
| 1939 | Inquest |
| 1940 | 21 Days |
| 1940 | Crimes at the Dark House |
| 1940 | Spy for a Day |
| 1940 | Contraband |
| 1940 | Pastor Hall |
| 1940 | Ten Days in Paris |
| 1940 | Convoy |
| 1940 | The Thief of Bagdad |
| 1941 | Freedom Radio |
| 1941 | Quiet Wedding |
| 1941 | The Ghost of St Michael's |
| 1941 | Spellbound |
| 1941 | Turned Out Nice Again |
| 1941 | Cottage to Let |
| 1941 | Rush Hour |
| 1942 | This Was Paris |
| 1942 | One of Our Aircraft is Missing |
| 1942 | Hard Steel |
| 1942 | They Flew Alone |
| 1942 | Sabotage at Sea |
| 1942 | The Great Mr Handel |
| 1943 | They Met in the Dark |
| 1943 | Schweik's New Adventure |
| 1943 | Escape to Danger |
| 1944 | On Approval |
| 1944 | A Canterbury Tale |
| 1945 | Kiss the Bride Goodbye |
| 1945 | For You Alone |
| 1945 | Waltz Time |
| 1945 | Battle for Music |
| 1945 | The Voice Within |
| 1945 | Night Boat to Dublin |
| 1946 | Under New Management |
| 1946 | The Laughing Lady |
| 1946 | Great Expectations |
| 1948 | The Monkey's Paw |
| 1948 | The Red Shoes |
| 1948 | Noose |
| 1948 | The Fallen Idol |
| 1948 | The Dark Road |
| 1948 | The Guinea Pig |
| 1949 | The Queen of Spades |
