Stage Stars off-stage: Nelson Keys the Famous Character Comedian

Series

Series Name
Eve And Everybody’s Film Review

Issue

Issue No.
273
Date Released
26 Aug 1926
Length of issue (in feet)
980
Stories in this Issue:

Story

Story No. within this Issue
3 / 6
Section Title
Stage Stars off-stage
Summary
NoS Summary - Nelson Keys/Keyes demonstrates various character disguises with make-up and wigs.
NoS synopsis: "To his many friends "Bunch" (as he is familiarly known) is a real bunch of characters. The day we saw him, he was trying some new make-up studies." C/U of the comedian Nelson Keys rubbing foundation onto his face, he sits in front of a table, presumably in a dressing room. He wears a dressing gown. C/U of his face and upper torso. He looks into the mirror as he makes up and puts on a wig. The wig makes him look as if he is almost bald with some white hair at the back. "Now some shaggy eyebrows." He wipes something onto his eyebrows. Then he combs them down to make them look shaggy. He makes lots of faces at the camera. "As Apaches seem to be the fascination of the moment" said ‘Bunch’ "Let’s evolve one." He takes his wig off, smoothes his eyebrows down, makes his eyes up. "Heavy lips and eyebrows give one the appropriate and villainous look." He paints his lips and defines his eyes. He then puts on a dark wig, a large gypsy style earring and a beret. "And there you are!" He pulls a disdainful look. He takes off the wig, earring and beret. "And now for a cup of tea!" M/S of Bunch sitting having a cup of tea. He drinks from the cup then smiles.
Researcher Comments
A short handwritten shot list is present in the Pathe boxfile.
Keywords
Performing arts
Written sources
Pathe Inventory File   Tin No.283
British Pathe Database 1997   Reference No.EP283
Pathe Eve 246-280 Boxfile   Issue sheet
National Film Archive Catalogue
Credits:
Production Co.
British Pathe Ltd.
Length of story (in feet)
200

This series is held by:

Film Archive

Name
British Film Institute (BFI)
Email
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Notes
The BFI National Archive also preserves the original nitrate film copies of British Movietone News, British Paramount News, Empire News Bulletin, Gaumont British News, Gaumont Graphic, Gaumont Sound News and Universal News (the World War II years are covered by the Imperial War Museum).
Series held
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Notes
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Series held
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How to cite this record

'Stage Stars off-stage: Nelson Keys the Famous Character Comedian', Eve And Everybody’s Film Review Issue No. 273, 26 Aug 1926. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/newsonscreen/search/index.php/story/331487 (Accessed 01 Feb 2025)