Arrest Bulldog Drummond (1939)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

James P. Hogan

Writers:

Herman C. McNeile (book)
Stuart Palmer (writer)

Release Date:

11 January 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

The invention of a war machine, that brings to explosion everything one wants to, puts Scotland Yard and Captain Drummond into alarm. |

Plot Keywords:

Adventurer | Sequel | Bulldog Drummond | Based On Book | Character Name In Title

Cast

John Howard	...	Capt. Hugh Chesterton 'Bulldog' Drummond
Heather Angel	...	Phyllis Clavering
H.B. Warner	...	Col. J.A. Nielsen
Reginald Denny	...	Algernon 'Algy' Longworth
E.E. Clive	...	'Tenny' Tennison
Jean Fenwick	...	Lady Beryl Ledyard
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Aunt Meg
George Zucco	...	Rolf Alferson
Leonard Mudie	...	Richard Gannett
Evan Thomas	...	John Smith
Clyde Cook	...	Short, Mustachio'd Constable (Sacker)
David Clyde	...	Tall, Cleanshaven Constable (McThane)
George Regas	...	Soongh, Lady Beryl's man
Neil Fitzgerald	...	Sir Malcolm McLeonard
Claud Allister	...	Sir Basil Leghorne

Runtime:

57 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording) | Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Movie Connections:

Follows Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1937)

Bulldog Drummond vs Ming the Merciless!

"Arrest Bulldog Drummond" promises more than it delivers - the science fiction plot has bad hats Zucco & Co. in charge of and selling an explosive electric ray device to the Enemy, with Drummond & Co. out to stop him. The weapon has a range of between a quarter and half a mile - which seems to make it well worth £1,000,000 to a Bad Power. A plan to terrorise London? Nah, it'll never happen.

In 56 minutes it lurches from one improbable scene to another - H.B. Warner is definitely NOT my idea of a Scotland Yard Inspector, sorry, Colonel. Colonel? Zucco and his ... sidekick, Lady Beryl take an almost childish glee in repeatedly demonstrating the weapon to themselves - meaning to the original cinema audience of 11 years olds! Everyone as usual plays their parts well, especially Howard/Angel/Denny & Clive as the unflappable goodie quartet.

Some nice touches here and there, with plenty of witticisms from all concerned, especially Hugh's impending marriage to Phyllis - or not, make it an enjoyable entry in the series. My copy was very poor and choppy but didn't detract too much for me.