Remembering: Ian Hay’s Housemaster

 Housemaster was a book, a play and a film from the nineteen-thirties written by Ian Hay. The plot needn’t distract us but the opening scene is of interest. As this front cover from a magazine of the time shows there is an authentic caning. As is the way of these things the “schoolboy” is played by an actor well over the age of eighteen. It was first produced at the Apollo Theatre, London, on 12 November 1936 and ran for 662 performances.

It was made into a film by the Associated British Picture Corporation in 1938 starring Otto Kruger (below) as the housemaster. It is available to buy as a DVD.

The play became a bit of a mainstay in repertory and amateur theatres, such as the Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth, in March 1944. In this picture the “boy” looks like he should have passed his school certificate a decade earlier.

The book published originally by Hodder & Stoughton, London, is out of copyright in some countries and available free of charge online.

The most interesting part of the book (I suspect) are the opening lines:

“All over! You can remove yourself now,” Mr. Donkin restored the cane to its residence in the locked cupboard below the study window. The very young gentleman addressed, Master Bimbo Farringdon, was at the moment occupying two chairs simultaneously. These were set back to back in the middle of the study, and Bimbo was kneeling on a Liddell and Scott laid upon the one with his head well down upon the seat of the second, his slender form thus presenting the maximum surface for chastisement.

Upon hearing his housemaster’s words, Bimbo gave a resolute gulp, straightened himself painfully, and descended from his lexicographical perch, The Moke had only given him a quick five, but the Moke was an experienced and conscientious performer over any distance.

“Did it hurt?” enquired Mr. Donkin, his back still turned. He possessed more tact than his House gave him credit for.

“Yes, sir,” replied Bimbo, applying clandestine massage.

“I meant it to. Otherwise we should both have been wasting our time. Shouldn’t we – hey?”

“Yes, sir”. One seldom says no on these occasions.

 

For more posts in the ‘Remembering’ series, click here

 For more extracts from novels, click here

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