When I saw the famous MGM logo at the start of this picture, I was fairly certain that it was going to have considerably higher production standards than most, if not all, of the previous entries in the series, as MGM is famous for putting gloss even in its "B"-movie section. And I was right - this is the slickest of all the Drummond films (even the music score is pretty sweeping!). Is it the best? It might have been, but it gives away some of its secrets too soon; for example, the identity of the villainous No.1 would have made for a good surprise at the very end, but the audience learns his identity much earlier. Walter Pidgeon is a bit stodgy as Drummond, but he is surrounded by a fine cast: Margaret Leighton is natural and appealing as his female assistant (an example of early feminism, she gradually overcomes Drummond's "This is not a job for a woman!" doubts with her competence), Robert Beatty as the suave-sleazy villain, Peggy Evans as his jealous but smarter-than-she-looks moll, David Tomlinson as an almost ideal Algy (nowhere near as stupid as he is usually portrayed), and Bernard Lee as a fellow member of Drummond and Algy's "gentleman's club.". A fairly strong note for the series to finish on. **1/2 out of 4.
Review of Calling Bulldog Drummond
