Bulldog Drummond | |
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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 by | Frank Lawrence Viola Lawrence |
Music by | Hugo Riesenfeld |
Production company | |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
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Running time | 90 min. |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
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").
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.
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.
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.
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]
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.
Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is a fictional character, created by H. C. McNeile and published under his pen name "Sapper". Following McNeile's death in 1937, the novels were continued by Gerard Fairlie. Drummond is a First World War veteran who, fed up with his sedate lifestyle, advertises looking for excitement, and becomes a gentleman adventurer. The character has appeared in novels, short stories, on the stage, in films, on radio and television, and in graphic novels.
Bulldog Drummond (1922) was the first film adaptation of the Bulldog Drummond fictional character, starring Carlyle Blackwell Sr. and Evelyn Greeley, and directed by Oscar Apfel. The story was adapted by B. E. Doxat-Pratt and produced by Maurits Binger.
Lilyan Tashman was an American stage, silent film, and sound film actress.
Bulldog Drummond's Revenge is a 1937 American adventure mystery film directed by Louis King, produced by Stuart Walker, written by Edward T. Lowe Jr. and Herman C. McNeile (novel), and featuring John Barrymore. The picture stars John Howard in his second appearance as Bulldog Drummond; Howard previously appeared as Ronald Colman's brother in Lost Horizon. Top-billed John Barrymore portrays his friend Colonel Nielsen.
Bulldog Jack is a 1935 British comedy film produced by Gaumont British, directed by Walter Forde, and starring Jack Hulbert, Fay Wray, Ralph Richardson and Atholl Fleming.
Reginald Leigh Dugmore, known professionally as Reginald Denny, was an English actor, aviator, and UAV pioneer.
Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back is a 1934 American comedy-mystery-adventure film directed by Roy Del Ruth. The film stars Ronald Colman and Loretta Young. It was a loose sequel to the 1929 film Bulldog Drummond which had also starred Colman.
Claud Allister was an English actor with an extensive film career in both Britain and Hollywood, where he appeared in more than 70 films between 1929 and 1955.
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.
Bulldog Drummond Escapes is a 1937 American mystery thriller film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Ray Milland as Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond alongside Heather Angel and Reginald Denny. Paramount continued with the Bulldog Drummond series, producing seven more films over the next two years. They replaced Milland with John Howard.
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.
Bulldog Drummond in Africa is a 1938 American adventure crime film. This was the 13th of 25 in the Bulldog Drummond film series from 1922 to 1969.
Bulldog Drummond Comes Back is a 1937 American mystery film thriller film directed by Louis King and starring John Howard as the English adventurer Bulldog Drummond. John Barrymore plays Drummond's friend Colonel Nielsen and is actually Top-billed in the picture. The supporting cast includes Drummond series regular Louise Campbell, Reginald Denny, E.E. Clive, and J. Carrol Naish. It was produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, and is the second in the studio's series following Bulldog Drummond Escapes which had starred Ray Milland.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.