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James Finlayson (actor)

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James Finlayson
Finlayson in 1923
Born
James Henderson Finlayson

(1887-08-27)27 August 1887
Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Died9 October 1953(1953-10-09) (aged 66)
Los Angeles, California, US
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1910–1951
Spouse
Emily Cora Gilbert
​
(m. 1919)​

James Henderson Finlayson (27 August 1887 – 9 October 1953) was a Scottish actor who worked in both silent and sound comedies. Balding, with a fake moustache,[1] he had many trademark comic mannerisms—including his squinting, outraged double-take reactions, and his characteristic exclamation: "D'ooooooh!" He is the best remembered comic foil of Laurel and Hardy.

Finlayson was known by a variety of nicknames. According to Laurel and Hardy scholar Randy Skretvedt, he "called himself Jimmy, was known around the lot as Jim and is usually referred to today as 'Fin'"[2]—a truncated version of his surname, as author John McCabe also noted in his 1961 biography Mr. Laurel & Mr. Hardy.

Early life and stage career

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Born in Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland to Alexander and Isabella (née Henderson) Finlayson,[3] James worked as a tinsmith before pursuing an acting career.[4] As part of John Clyde's company, he played Jamie Ratcliffe in Jeanie Deans at the Theatre Royal in Edinburgh in 1910.[5]

The next year (1911), with both parents deceased, he emigrated at age 24 to the United States, along with his brother, Robert.[6][7] In May 1912 in New York City, he played a detective disguised as a teuchter (person originating from the Scottish West Highlands or Western Isles) in the stage production The Great Game at Daly's Theatre:[8][9] A reviewer in the Daily Mirror wrote: "Finlayson had an excellent opportunity, which he did not miss, for developing two characters in his one role—the simple, naive Scotsman and the artful, determined detective. The remarkable thing is that he managed to do them both at the same time."[10][11]

Finlayson later won the role of Rab Biggar in the Broadway production of Bunty Pulls the Strings by Graham Moffat,[10] then dropped out of a national tour in 1916 to pursue a career in Hollywood.

Still from Down on the Farm (1920)
Film still from Down on the Farm (1920)

Film

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Arriving in Los Angeles in 1916, Finlayson found film work at L-KO and Thomas H. Ince's studio.[10] In October 1919, he signed a contract with the Mack Sennett Comedies Corporation[12] and appeared in numerous Sennett comedies, including with the Keystone Cops.[13][14]

The promotional newspaper article for the 1920 premiere of Sennett's Down on the Farm refers to Finlayson as "legitimate and screen player of international celebrity", and of his performance says: "The villian [sic] in the case—a sort of cross between a Turkish Don Juan and a 'loan shark'—is played with rare power and comic results of seriousness by James Finlayson".[15]

Finlayson sent to Scotland for his close friend Andy Clyde, urging him to join him at the Sennett studio. Clyde arrived in 1922 and became a Sennett fixture as a versatile character actor. Finlayson, however, did not establish himself as star material, and left Sennett's employ later that year.

Hal Roach Studios

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Finlayson was hired almost immediately by Sennett's rival, Hal Roach, who gave him supporting roles in his studio's Snub Pollard and Stan Laurel comedies. With Roach's biggest short-subject star Harold Lloyd moving on to features, Roach tried to start new series with Charley Chase (successfully) and Finlayson (unsuccessfully). The next step came in 1927 when Roach's All-Star Comedy series gave Finlayson equal billing with up-and-coming co-stars Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, comedian Edna Marion, and others;[16] some studio publicity even referred to Finlayson, Hardy, and Laurel as a "famous comedy trio."[17] But Roach staff producer and future Academy Award director Leo McCarey recognized the great potential of a Laurel-and-Hardy pairing and began developing their characters and expanding their roles.[18] By the autumn of 1928, Laurel and Hardy had their own starring series while the All-Star Comedy series soldiered on with other comedians.[1] Nonetheless, Finlayson was still "considered by many to be an indispensable part of the Laurel & Hardy team."[19]

Altogether, Finlayson had roles in 33 Laurel and Hardy films, usually as a villain or an antagonist, in such films as Big Business (1929) and Way Out West (1937). He also starred alongside Laurel in 19 films, and Hardy in five, before Laurel and Hardy were teamed. He appeared in dozens of Roach films with Charley Chase, Glenn Tryon, Snub Pollard and Ben Turpin, and in several Our Gang shorts, including Mush and Milk, in which he and Spanky McFarland match wits in a comically adversarial phone conversation.

Finlayson later played uncredited bit parts in films such as Foreign Correspondent (1940), To Be or Not to Be (1942), and Royal Wedding (1951). He was often called on for silent-comedy reunions like Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) and The Perils of Pauline (1947).

Personal life and death

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Finlayson married Emily Cora Gilbert, an American citizen from Iowa, in 1919[20] and became a US citizen in 1942.[21]

English actress Stephanie Insall and Finlayson regularly took breakfast together. However, on the morning of 9 October 1953, Finlayson did not turn up at the usual time. Knowing he had recently been ill from flu, she went to his home where she discovered his body, he had died of a heart attack the night before. He was 66 years old.[22]

Legacy

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One of Finlayson's trademarks was a comic drawn-out "Dohhhhhhh!" response to frustration or insult. He had used the term as a minced oath to stand in for the word "Damn!" A half-century later, it inspired Dan Castellaneta, the voice actor of Homer Simpson. During the voice recording session for a Tracey Ullman Show short, Castellaneta was required to utter what was written in the script as an "annoyed grunt". He rendered it as a drawn out "Dohhhhhhh!" Matt Groening felt it would better suit the timing of animation if it were spoken faster, so Castellaneta shortened it to a quickly uttered "D'oh!"[23]

Accolades

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In 1996, as part its celebrations of a century of cinema in Scotland, the Scottish Film Council presented a plaque commemorating James to Falkirk Council.[24] It reads: "James (Jimmie) Finlayson. Outstanding comic screen actor. The foil to Laurel and Hardy in many films. Born in Larbert in 1887".[24] The plaque was initially erected in Falkirk Town Hall,[24] but was subsequently displayed in Bo'ness Library as part of the HippFest 2019 silent film festival.[25]

In 2011, James (as "Jimmy Finlayson") was incorporated into the Catchphases 1 section of the Comedy Carpet mosaic beside Blackpool Tower along with a "D'OH!" embossed star.[26]

In 2019, James was ranked number 39 in a list of Scotland's funniest 60 people compiled by The Herald in a feature trailing the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.[27]

Portrayals

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Finlayson is one of the many entertainers portrayed by English actor Timothy Spall in the 2018 film Stanley: a Man of Variety.[28][29]

In the 2018 Laurel and Hardy biopic Stan & Ollie, Finlayson is portrayed on the set of Way Out West by Scottish actor Keith MacPherson.

Sons of the Desert Tent

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An international "tent" (chapter) of the Sons of the Desert fraternity was formed in Glasgow in 2019 by and for relatives of Finlayson, and named Our Relations after the Laurel and Hardy film in which Finlayson co-starred.[30][31]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1920 Down on the Farm The Sportive Banker with Mortgage produced by Mack Sennett
Married Life Man Who Made Good
Love, Honor and Behave Artist
1921 A Small Town Idol J. Wellington Jones Mack Sennett Comedies; with Ben Turpin
Home Talent Stranded Actor
1922 The Crossroads of New York Lawyer
1923 The Noon Whistle O'Hallahan, the foreman Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
White Wings Dental patient Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Pick and Shovel The foreman Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Oranges and Lemons Worker Short, Uncredited, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Hollywood Himself Paramount Pictures
A Man About Town Humko, store detective Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Roughest Africa Lt. Hans Downe (Little Boss) Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Frozen Hearts General Sappovitch Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
The Whole Truth Defense lawyer Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
The Soilers Smacknamara Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Scorching Sands James Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Mother's Joy Baron Buttontop Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
1924 Smithy Sergeant Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Postage Due Postal inspector Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Zeb vs. Paprika Trainer Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Brothers Under the Chin Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Wide Open Spaces Jack McQueen Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Rupert of Hee Haw Rupert of Hee Haw Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Our Congressman Dinner Party Guest Short, Uncredited, Hal Roach Studios
Short Kilts McGregor's son Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
Near Dublin Brick merchant Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Stan Laurel
1925 The Haunted Honeymoon Short, Hal Roach Studios
Innocent Husbands The Desk Clerk Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Charley Chase
Welcome Home Minor Role
Yes, Yes, Nanette Hillory, the new husband Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Oliver Hardy
1926 Madame Mystery Struggling author Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Theda Bara
Dizzy Daddies Jonathan Haig Short, Hal Roach Studios
Wife Tamers Waiter Short, Hal Roach Studios. with Lionel Barrymore and Gertrude Astor
Ukulele Sheiks Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Glenn Tryon and Vivien Oakland
Thundering Fleas Justice of the Peace Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Oliver Hardy and Charley Chase
Raggedy Rose Simpson Sniffle Hal Roach Studios; with Mabel Normand
1927 Seeing the World James Finlayson, teacher Short, Hal Roach Studios; Our Gang series
One Hour Married Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Mabel Normand
The Honorable Mr. Buggs Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Oliver Hardy
The Second Hundred Years Gov. Browne Van Dyke Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
No Man's Law Jack Belcher Hal Roach Studios; with Oliver Hardy
Love 'em and Weep Titus Tilbury Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
With Love and Hisses Captain Bustle Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Do Detectives Think? Judge Foozle Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
1928 Bachelor's Paradise Pat Malone Tiffany Pictures
Ladies' Night in a Turkish Bath Pa Slocum First National Pictures
Lady Be Good Trelawney West First National Pictures
Show Girl Mr. Dugan First National Pictures
1929 Liberty Store Keeper Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Big Business Homeowner Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Two Weeks Off Pa Weaver
Hard to Get Pa Martin First National Pictures
Wall Street Andy
1930 Night Owls Meadows, the butler Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Young Eagles Scotty
The Dawn Patrol Field Sergeant
For the Defense Parrott
El príncipe del dólar
Chercheuses d'or
Feet First Painter Uncredited
Another Fine Mess Colonel Buckshot Short, Uncredited, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
1931 Chickens Come Home Butler Short, Uncredited, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Politiquerías Criado
Our Wife Father of Dulce Short, Uncredited, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Pardon Us Teacher Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
One Good Turn A Community Player Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Hasty Marriage Kitty's Father Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Charley Chase
1932 Thunder Below Scotty
Pack Up Your Troubles The General Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Zwei Ritter ohne Furcht und Tadel 1 Short
1933 Me and My Pal Peter Cucumber Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
His Silent Racket Himself Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Charley Chase
Fra Diavolo Lord Rocberg Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Mush and Milk Mr. Brown, the banker Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Our Gang
1934 Trouble in Store The Watchman (leading role) (U.K Comedy Short), Warner Brothers
The Girl in Possession Minor Role Uncredited
Oh No Doctor! Axminster
Dick Turpin Jeremy
Nine Forty-Five Police Constable Doyle
What Happened to Harkness? Police Constable Gallun
Father and Son Bildad
Big Business Police Constable
1935 Thicker Than Water Mr. Finlayson Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Handle with Care Jimmy
Who's Your Father Uncredited
Bonnie Scotland Sergeant Major Finlayson Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Manhattan Monkey Business Joyce's Father Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Charley Chase
Life Hesitates at 40 Dr. Finlayson Short, Hal Roach Studios; with Charley Chase
1936 The Bohemian Girl Finn, Captain of the Guard Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Our Relations Finn, Chief Engineer Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
1937 Way Out West Mickey Finn Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Pick a Star Director Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Toast of New York Trick-Hat Inventor Uncredited
All Over Town MacDougal
This Way Please Policeman Uncredited
Angel Barker's Second Butler Uncredited
Wise Girl Jailer Uncredited, RKO Radio
1938 Block-Heads Finn - Man on Stairs Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Carefree Man on golf course Uncredited, RKO Pictures; with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
1939 Hollywood Cavalcade Himself 20th Century Fox
The Flying Deuces Jailer RKO Pictures; with Laurel and Hardy
Raffles Hansom Cab Driver Uncredited, United Artists
The Great Victor Herbert Lamplighter
A Chump at Oxford Baldy Vandevere Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
1940 Saps at Sea Dr J.H. Finlayson Hal Roach Studios; with Laurel and Hardy
Foreign Correspondent Dutch Peasant Uncredited, United Artists
1941 Nice Girl? Loafer at Train Station Uncredited
One Night in Lisbon Air Raid Warden Uncredited
New Wine Minor Role Uncredited
1942 To Be or Not to Be Scottish Farmer Uncredited, United Artists
Yanks Ahoy Cook Flynn Uncredited
1946 Two Sisters from Boston Street Cleaner Uncredited
She-Wolf of London Constable With Hobbs and Latham Uncredited
Till the Clouds Roll By Candy Vendor Uncredited
1947 Thunder in the Valley Court Judge Uncredited
The Perils of Pauline Comic Chef Paramount Pictures
1948 Julia Misbehaves Bill Collector Uncredited, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Grand Canyon Trail Sheriff
Hills of Home Minor Role Uncredited
1949 Challenge to Lassie Newspaper Reporter Uncredited, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1951 Here Comes the Groom Drunken Sailor / Wedding Guest Uncredited, Paramount Pictures
Royal Wedding Cabby Uncredited, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

References

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  1. ^ a b Mitchell, p. 102
  2. ^ Skretvedt, p. 77
  3. ^ Scotland Statutory Registers: Births in the Parish of Larbert in the County of Stirling, 1887 – page 51, Item #151
  4. ^ 1901 Census of the Household of Alexander FINLAYSON in the Hamlet of North Broomage, Parish of Larbert, Stirlingshire, Scotland; ScotlandsPeople (Census 1901 485/0A 001/00 043)
  5. ^ The Scotsman; 3 May 1910; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Scotsman (1817–1950); p. 5
  6. ^ Ship manifest for the California, sailing from Glasgow, arrived New York on 5 June 1911; page 766; line: 3
  7. ^ National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), 1887–1940; Microfilm Serial: M1524; Microfilm Roll: 8
  8. ^ Review in New York Tribune, 12 May 1912
  9. ^ Review in New York Herald, 17 May 1912.
  10. ^ a b c Louvish, Simon (2001); Stan and Ollie: The Roots of Comedy; London: Faber and Faber; ISBN 0-571-20352-3; p. 157
  11. ^ Review in New York Dramatic Mirror, 22 May 1912; retrieved 25 January 2012.
  12. ^ Mack Sennett papers 1912-1933 Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  13. ^ Jimmy Finlayson of Old Keystone Kops Fame Dies Archived 9 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Obituary in Los Angeles Times, 10 October 1953; retrieved 17 March 2016.
  14. ^ James H. Finlayson of 'Keystone Kops' Archived 9 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Obituary in New York Times, 10 October 1953; retrieved 17 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette". 4 April 1920. p. 3 (Section 4).
  16. ^ Skretvedt, Randy, (1996). Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies. Beverly Hills: Past Times Publishing. ISBN 0-940410-29-X. p 93
  17. ^ Skretvedt, p. 98
  18. ^ Skretvedt, pp. 95–97
  19. ^ Mitchell, p. 101
  20. ^ California, County Marriages, 1850–1952; page 209; film number: 1033287; digital folder number: 004540626; image number: 00664
  21. ^ "Ancestry Library Edition".
  22. ^ "California, Death Index, 1940-1997". Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  23. ^ Devine, Cate (21 July 2007). "What's the story with ... Homer's D'oh!". The Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  24. ^ a b c Smith, John (27 November 1996). "Accolade for Laurel and Hardy's fall-guy". The Scotsman. p. 3.
  25. ^ Wilson, Charlene (14 March 2019). "Laurel and Hardy mosaics unveiled in Bo'ness ahead of Scotland's only silent film festival". The Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  26. ^ "CATCHPHRASES 1". The Comedy Carpet, Blackpool. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  27. ^ "Who are Scotland's funniest 60 people?". The Herald. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  28. ^ Unsworth, Martin (28 March 2019). "STANLEY: A MAN OF VARIETY". STARBURST Magazine. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  29. ^ Sarah (13 March 2019). "Stanley A Man of Variety". Caution: Spoilers. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  30. ^ Young, Alistair. "Fin Tent". Bowler Dessert Online. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Our Relations Tent of James Finlayson". Larbert Loon. 22 June 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
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