Bulldog Drummond (1929 film)

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Bulldog Drummond
Bulldog-Drummond-1929.jpg
movie poster
Directed by F. Richard Jones
Written by Sidney Howard (adaptation)
Wallace Smith
Based on Bulldog Drummond
1921 play
by Herman C. McNeile
Produced by Samuel Goldwyn
Starring Ronald Colman
Claud Allister
Lawrence Grant
Montagu Love
Joan Bennett
Lilyan Tashman
Wilson Benge
Cinematography George S. Barnes
Gregg Toland
Edited byFrank Lawrence
Viola Lawrence
Music by Hugo Riesenfeld
Production
company
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • May 2, 1929 (1929-05-02)(U.S.)
Running time
90 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bulldog Drummond is a 1929 American pre-Code crime film in which Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond helps a beautiful young woman in distress. The film stars Ronald Colman as the title character, Claud Allister, Lawrence Grant, Montagu Love, Wilson Benge, Joan Bennett, and Lilyan Tashman. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by F. Richard Jones, the movie was adapted by Sidney Howard from the play by H. C. McNeile (credited onscreen as "Sapper").

Contents

Colman was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and William Cameron Menzies for Best Art Direction. [1] [2]

Two previous Bulldog Drummond films had been produced: Bulldog Drummond (1923) and Bulldog Drummond's Third Round (1925). The 1929 film was the first Bulldog Drummond movie with sound, and was also Ronald Colman's first talkie. A series of Drummond movies followed, beginning with Temple Tower made in the UK in 1930; see the main article on Bulldog Drummond for a complete list.

Plot

Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond, a demobilised British captain bored with civilian life, places a personal advertisement in The Times offering his services for "any excitement". One of the many replies intrigues him: Phyllis Benton claims she is in great danger. He immediately sets out for the Green Bay Inn, where she has reserved some rooms for him. Unable to persuade him to give up this mad adventure, his friend Algy Longworth follows after, dragging Drummond's valet, Danny, along.

Lilyan Tashman and Ronald Colman in Bulldog Drummond Bulldog Drummond (1929) 1.jpg
Lilyan Tashman and Ronald Colman in Bulldog Drummond

Phyllis turns out to be all Drummond had hoped for: beautiful and desperately in need of help. Her wealthy uncle, John Travers, is being treated in a hospital by a Dr. Lakington for a nervous breakdown, but she is sure there is something wrong about the hospital and Dr. Lakington, and that she is being watched constantly. She runs away when she spots the outline of two eavesdropping men (Algy and Danny), much to Drummond's annoyance. She is caught and taken to Dr. Lakington's Nursing Home by Carl Peterson, Irma and the doctor.

When Drummond follows, he witnesses Travers' unsuccessful attempt to escape. Drummond drives away, but returns stealthily and rescues Phyllis. Sending her off with Algy and Danny, he sneaks back once more and overhears Irma convince the others to stay and try to get Travers' signature on a document transferring securities and jewels to them. Drummond manages to save Travers.

However, he makes a serious error when he takes Travers back to the inn. The villains soon arrive there. Drummond manages to disguise himself as Travers; the crooks take him back, along with Phyllis. When they realise they have the wrong man they threaten to torture Phyllis. Drummond tells them Travers is hidden at the inn (whereas he is really being driven to London). While Peterson and Irma go to check, Drummond is freed by Phyllis before Lakington can kill him. He strangles the doctor. Drummond disarms Peterson when he returns, but his gang pose as policemen and take him away. Phyllis persuades Drummond to let them go, telling him she loves him.

Cast

Critical reaction

Bulldog Drummond ad in The Film Daily, 1929 "Bulldog Drummond" ad in The Film Daily, Jan-Jun 1929 (page 1281 crop).jpg
Bulldog Drummond ad in The Film Daily, 1929

Mordaunt Hall of The New York Times called the film "the happiest and most enjoyable entertainment of its kind that has so far reached the screen", and recommended it to those who had harsh words for the burgeoning phenomenon of motion pictures with sound. Hall lauded the film for going beyond a mere filmed version of the stage show, and the "artistry" with which director F. Richard Jones fashioned his scenes with an eye toward humor and thrills. Hall also praised the technical achievement of the sound quality, and the performances of Ronald Colman, Montagu Love and Lilyan Tashman. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police is a 1939 English Castle murder mystery film directed by James P. Hogan, based on the H. C. McNeile novel Temple Tower. It is one of many films featuring the British sleuth and adventurer Bulldog Drummond. In 1930, Fox produced Temple Tower, directed by Donald Gallaher and starring Kenneth MacKenna and Marceline Day, which was also based on the McNeile book.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulldog Drummond</span> Fictional character created by H. C. McNeile (pen name "Sapper")

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<i>Calling Bulldog Drummond</i> 1951 British film by Victor Saville

Calling Bulldog Drummond is a 1951 British crime film directed by Victor Saville and featuring Walter Pidgeon, Margaret Leighton, Robert Beatty, David Tomlinson and Bernard Lee. It featured the character Bulldog Drummond created by the novelist Herman Cyril McNeile, which had seen a number of screen adaptations. A novel tie-in was also released in 1951. It was made by the British subsidiary of MGM at Elstree Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alfred Junge.

<i>Bulldog Drummond Escapes</i> 1937 film by James P. Hogan

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<i>Bulldog Drummonds Peril</i> 1938 film by James P. Hogan

Bulldog Drummond's Peril is a 1938 American adventure crime mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and starring John Barrymore and John Howard. The film is based on Herman C. McNeile's novel The Third Round.

<i>Bulldog Drummond in Africa</i> 1938 film by Louis King

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<i>Bulldog Drummond Comes Back</i> 1937 film by Louis King

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<i>Arrest Bulldog Drummond</i> 1939 film by James P. Hogan

Arrest Bulldog Drummond is a 1938 American crime thriller film directed by James P. Hogan. It was the last of eight B-pictures featuring the character produced by Paramount Pictures in the late 1930s. All but the first starred John Howard as Drummond.

<i>Bulldog Drummond at Bay</i> (1937 film) 1937 British film by Norman Lee

Bulldog Drummond at Bay is a 1937 British mystery film based on the novel of the same name directed by Norman Lee and starring John Lodge, Dorothy Mackaill and Claud Allister. It was made at Elstree Studios.

<i>Bulldog Drummonds Bride</i> 1939 film by James P. Hogan

Bulldog Drummond's Bride is an American crime comedy thriller film produced in 1939. It was the last film of Paramount Pictures' Bulldog Drummond film series.

<i>The Return of Bulldog Drummond</i> 1934 film by Walter Summers

The Return of Bulldog Drummond is a 1934 British thriller film directed by Walter Summers and starring Ralph Richardson, Ann Todd and Claud Allister. It was based on the 1922 novel The Black Gang by H.C. McNeile and was the fourth film in the series of twenty-five.

<i>13 Lead Soldiers</i> 1948 film by Frank McDonald

13 Lead Soldiers is a 1948 American mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and starring Tom Conway, Maria Palmer and Helen Westcott. Conway plays Captain Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond, a role he also played in The Challenge another Twentieth Century Fox release the same year.

Bulldog Drummond is a 1921 play by H.C. McNeile and Gerald du Maurier. It is based on McNeile's 1920 novel of the same title featuring the gentleman adventurer Bulldog Drummond.

References

  1. "Bulldog Drummond (1929)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  2. "The 3rd Academy Awards (1930) Nominees and Winners". Oscars.org (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences). Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  3. Hall, Mordaunt (May 3, 1929). "Movie Review – Bulldog Drummond (1929)". The New York Times .