Claude Deputises

Claude Dampier's comic persona was a silly ass, forever misunderstanding things said to him. He often referred to a lady friend named Mrs Gibson. He was extremely popular on stage and radio and one can imagine his excellent comic timing going down extremely well. This film is a record of one of his stage sketches in which he turns up as a substitute pianist to accompany Australian singer Billie Carlyle. (She was Dampier's wife in real life and appeared only in his films). Dampier's character appears to have no musical ability at all but later manages to bash out some kind of tune. He also refers to Mrs Gibson, who's in the audience. It's all rather charming and it's amazing that it's survived in such good condition. There's a print in the BFI's National Film Archive.