The Challenge (1948) User Reviews

Good mystery and a nice performance Tom Conway

[dbborroughs · 7/10 · 12 October 2008]

Tom Conway (brother of George Saunders and damn fine actor in his own right) takes on the role of Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond in the one of two stabs at Sapper's classic character.

The plot of the film has Drummond's friend Algy(played by One Step Beyond host John Newland) stumbling into an auction house and buying a model of a ship known as the Flying Dutchman accidentally. What Drummond and his friends quickly learn is that model was made by a sea captain who was found dead, and possibly murdered, the day before. When Drummond refuses to let the ship be sold back to "its rightful" owner, things become complicated as the ship is stolen and another body turns up. Complicating matters is not only the police insistence that Drummond stay out of the affair, but none of the Captain's heirs are being very helpful. Will Drummond get to the bottom of the mess and will he remain alive?

Good B program mystery that is a bit more complicated then the mysteries that Conway faced in his long running role as the Falcon. To be certain you could almost switch the two sleuths with out missing a beat, but at the same time the films are very different in that The Challenge is less jokey and more like a noir film in that anyone of the suspects (and some that aren't) could have done the killings. Frankly other than Drummond and his friends you really don't like or trust anyone else (I mean that in a good way since it keeps you on your toes). I like that its pretty much a fast moving tale that keeps you guessing right up to the denouncement.

For my money the best Drummond films were the ones made with John Howard in the lead with Heather Angel, Reginald Denny and EE Clive in support. Those films are not so hot mysteries but the chemistry between the characters is choice and covers for the fair mysteries. That said this is a nice reinvention of the character for the screen and certainly worth your time and your popcorn.

7ish out of 10

Conway Saunters

[boblipton · 6/10 · 7 July 2020]

Algy, in the person of John Newland, has purchased a model ship by accident at auction. June Vincent wants it and is willing to buy it at a profit, but Tom Conway as Bulldog Drummond, saunters through the movie trying to figure out why.

It's definitely a Bulldog Drummond story, being based on a story by 'Sapper'. It's also a pretty good mystery. However, its relationship to the series of stories written by Herman C. McNeile is problematic. When he first showed up, Drummond was a gorilla of a man with extensive scarring from service in the Great War. That didn't last long; the first movie Bulldog was Carlyle Blackwell in 1922, and he was subsequently played by people like Ronald Colman and John Howard. Conway plays this like George Sanders' brother, which he was. Good thing the mystery is difficult to figure out.

"Now that the fish has risen to the bait things will start to happen"

[hwgrayson · 5/10 · 8 February 2024]

Bulldog Drummond solves the mystery of 'The Flying Dutchman' as in a model boat that some shady people want to possess. The mystery leads to murder. A routine story and Tom Conway as Drummond could as well be The Falcon or the Saint in his portrayal. There is nothing that distinguishes his Drummond from any other generic private detective. The Drummond from the books was entirely different. As are all the versions of Algy Longworth in movies, acted like John Newland in this movie as just a silly ass. Algy was more than that in the source material. The supporting cast are mainly unremarkable but I did like Eily Malyon as the stern housekeeper Kitty Fyffe and James Fairfax as the Cockney pub barman Blinky Henderson.

Another Day , Another Bulldog

[Byrdz · 19 November 2021]

Another Bulldog Drummond entry that could have been any generic amateur detective and sidekicks.

Tom Conway wasn't bad, just nothing special.

The story was less convoluted than usual and had some clever bits. The film was largely shot in near darkness which resulted in the tussles and bonks on the head being seen as shadows and outlines only (this may have been the result of watching a poor copy)

Interesting side note : Seymour, boy reporter, sidekick was Terry Kilburn aka Tiny Tim in the Reginald Own Christmas Carol and the lad who uttered the immortal "Goodbye, Mr. Chips".

Only mildly challenging

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 12 July 2012]

Among the many actors who have tackled the role of Bulldog Drummond, Tom Conway is probably my least favorite. I don't know if it's his fault or the script's, but in his introductory scene, where a young woman asks him to sell her a model ship but he refuses - unless she goes out to dinner with him, he comes across as a bit of a jerk; quite atypical Drummond behavior. At least he has a sense of humor: returning home only to find it a mess made by someone who was obviously searching for something, he comments "We seem to have been visited by a small cyclone!". As for the film itself, well, it's VERY low-budget, and although it scores points for being a (double) murder mystery, after the previous year's "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" which injected some new life to the series, it has to count as a step back. ** out of 4.

No Laughs but a Straightforward Mystery

[robert-temple-1 · 8/10 · 12 December 2008]

This was the nineteenth Bulldog Drummond film, and the first of the two starring Tom Conway (both made in 1948). It is based on Sapper's novel 'Challenge', and is the second filmed version of that novel, the first being 'Bulldog Drummond in Africa' of 1938, starring John Howard. In this film, there are no gags or laughs at all, and workmanlike director Jean Yarbrough moves things right along, helming a straightforward mystery story. Tom Conway is excellent as a smoothie Drummond, who could be the Falcon. There is no butler. Drummond's friend Algy Longworth is played by a charmless washed-out actor named John Newland, who is about as interesting as a wet biscuit. So we are left only with the main actor and the mystery story, as there is no ensemble. The tale is rather ingenious, and it is a bit of a challenge to figure out where the gold is buried, with the directions to the spot concealed in a series of sails rigged on model sailing ships which keep getting stolen by mysterious people in the dark. June Vincent is the gal, who seems very suspicious for some time, but then we learn who the real villains are. This is an enjoyable Drummond film which makes up for what it lacks in charm with a good yarn. Tom Conway was a very good Drummond in his two appearances in the role, if you like your tales straight up and without any of the bubbles and froth of the more amusing versions.

Yet another Bulldog Drummond...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 11 November 2023]

Unlike most of the amateur detective film series characters, Bulldog Drummond was never played consistently by any one actor. In fact, 14 different actors played this adventurer and crime fighter! In "The Challenge", Tom Conway plays the guy...which makes sense, as Conway also starred in the Falcon movie series...one that was pretty similar to the Drummond series.

When the film begins, Drummond's dopey friend, Algy, arrives along with a ship model. It seems the guy accidentally bought it at an auction and he really didn't want it. So, when a lady arrives soon after and she offers to buy it from Algy at a profit, Drummond's detective senses tingle. Why would she be willing to pay this much and why would she go to all the trouble of tracking Algy down for the model? There MUST be something secretly important about the model...and the film is about why the model is so popular.

This is an okay film...not bad, not great. It is interesting how violent the movie is near the end...much more so than what's usual for these B-movies. Overall, a decent film but not as good nor interesting as Conway's Falcon movies.