User Reviews

For my first introduction to the Bulldog Drummond franchise, I must say I was rather pleasantly entertained. The film is decidedly played in a much lighter vein than the Charlie Chan stories of the same era, and with a cast of characters that complement each other nicely. Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond (Ray Milland) however is not without his shortcomings as a detective, as he gets blind sided more than once and rescues the wrong girl before finally resolving the mystery.

In retrospect, the set up is one of the bigger plot holes in the movie. Miss Phyllis Clavering (Heather Angel) hijacks Drummond's auto in the middle of nowhere, only to return to the Greystone estate where she's being held captive. There we're introduced to a villainous cast of characters headed by Norman Merridew (Porter Hall), who masterminds a counterfeiting scheme following the murder of Miss Clavering's brother.

For his part, Drummond is aided by hapless partner Algy Longworth (Reginald Denny), and Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Reginald Nielson (Guy Standing). However it's Drummond's butler Tenny (E.E. Clive) who almost steals the show as the deadpan foil for his master, getting him out of more than one scrape before it's over. His best effort is when he nonchalantly drags a body in a blanket to Drummond's closet as if it were a routine occurrence.

Pay attention to a conversation between Phyllis and Drummond when she describes the letter she found in the garden. She states that it was blurry and covered in mud making it hard to read. Earlier however, when we see that same letter switched to prevent it from reaching Colonel Nielson, it appeared in perfect condition.

There's a running gag that gets a bit overdone regarding Algy's first encounter with fatherhood. He's constantly thwarted trying to get in touch with the hospital to find out what's happening. Of course everything works out well, as the old boy is rewarded with a son.

All in all, "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" is a fun story, complete with clever word play, the old shoes behind the curtain trick, a lights out gimmick and the advantage between good and bad guys shared equally. Drummond even gets the girl in the end, planning marriage as it were, though I understand other adventures stood in the way before that happened. I'm inclined to check them out based on this introduction to the series.

The 1930s and 40s saw many B-movie series detective films such as Charlie Chan, Sherlock Holmes, The Saint as well as Bulldog Drummond. Oddly, however, the Drummond films were even more prone than most of these films to change leading men. Sure, there were several Charlie Chans, but that was because Warner Olland and Sidney Toler died and had to be replaced. But with the Drummond series, many actors played the lead in only one film--and this is true here, as Ray Milland takes his lone stab at being the title character. While he's pretty good, he's really overshadowed by his supporting cast--and this isn't a bad thing at all. In fact, the overall plot and Milland, while pretty good, are probably the weakest points in the film.

What I loved were the supporting cast and how their characters were written. In particular, I loved Drummond's smart-alleck butler--his lines were very funny and he was a very able assistant. In addition, I REALLY loved the leading lady because for once, she was not a stupid or helpless victim (which is usually the case in the films). Again and again, she behaves very smartly and I couldn't help but admire the film for this. Here are some examples:

When Drummond is fighting with a bad guy, she does NOT just stand there with her mouth wide open doing nothing (the standard response in this type of film), but he shoots or smashes the bad guy over the head!

When they try to drug her, she later spits out the pill and beats the lady taking care of her! Definitely, this dame is an action hero!

When she knocks out a bad guy, she actually stops to pick up and use his gun! In so many films, they knock out a baddie and leave the gun right there--a cliché I truly hate!

In addition to this wonderful woman (who Drummond is smitten with--probably due to her actions), the rest of the cast is excellent. They really help to raise an ordinary film to must-see status for fans of the status.

I have seen a few of these films and for me there is usually too much "comedy" from Reginald Denny that detracts from the action. Saying that, in my opinion "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" is one of the best entries - everything works well, and comedy is kept to a minimum.

Ray Milland is great as the debonair Drummond. He makes a mad dash to London to see Algy (Reginald Denny's comedy is kept under reins). From the moment Heather Angel comes into it your attention is rivetted to her.

Heather Angel was an English actress, who appeared in a couple of Alfred Hitchcock films ("Suspicion" (1941) and "Lifeboat" (1944)). She was obviously popular in the Bulldog Drummond series as she appeared in several of them.

Drummond is driving to Headquarters when he is accosted by Phyliss Clavering (Heather Angel) running onto the road and fainting (or pretending to). When he goes to the aid of a man calling for help Phyliss takes his car and drives home. It turns out she is being imprisoned at Greystone manor. She leaves her purse in Drummond's car to force him to visit Greystone manor to return her things. Ingeniously she leaves him a message (in the inside of his hat) so he realises something fishy is going on.

Phyliss is not a simpering heroine, she is a real go-getter. A lot of the smart ways she goes about trying to outwit her scheming relatives - you just have to watch the movie.

E.E. Clive plays the butler "Tenny" who more than keeps up with Drummond.

Upon returning to England protagonist Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond sets off for his home in the country. When he is nearly there he almost hits a woman with his car; she apparently faints and he puts her in his car. He then hears gunshots and while he investigates the woman drives off in his car! She doesn't get far though and the car is found by Drummond's butler, Tenny. Her abandoned purse leads them to the house of Norman Merridew where he in informed that the woman, Phyllis Clavering, is being treated for her delusions… she believes Merridew killed her brother and is plotting to steal her inheritance. Drummond is inclined to believe that she is far from delusional and sets out to rescue her and foil the dastardly Merridew's plans with the help of his friend Algy and Tenny. If that wasn't enough excitement Algy is due to become a father at any moment and is desperate to find out if his wife has given birth and if so whether it is a boy or a girl.

As this was my introduction to the world of Bulldog Drummond I can't say how it compares to others in the series or whether it captures the spirit of the books… however I can say it was rather enjoyable. There was plenty of drama and the sort of action that can be enjoyed by fans of adventure whatever their age. There were also a good number of laughs to be had; mostly from Algy and Tenny. Ray Milland puts in a decent performance as Drummond although at times his character doesn't seem to be taking the situation as seriously as one might expect. Heather Angel does a great job as Phyllis; vulnerable at times but also showing believable ingenuity at others. The rest of the cast was solid enough… especially Porter Hall… with a beard like that he had to be a rotter! Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody who doesn't think action requires a high body count and exploding helicopters!

This is by no means a gem of the highest water, but it certainly has some moments of suspense and humor. It's set in one endless foggy night (It's foggy even indoors sometimes.)in England as BD attempts to rescue a damsel in distress. Though clearly shot on sets, the fog and darkness prevent it from looking completely phony.

The actors are good though Ray Milland plays the hero in that manic, bright eyed, and bright teethed mode you see in many 30's movies, and his sidekick, Algy, is a bit in the dimwit mode such as Watson was often portrayed in the Sherlock Holmes films.

However there are a number of amusing dialog scenes between Milland and other in the film so I'd rate it better than an average programmer.

In this modest, unambitious crime mystery, Ray Milland is Bulldog Drummond, an adventurous, thumotic young fellow who looks for crime everywhere he goes and, as Inspector Nielson observes, always seems to find it. I don't see anything special about that. Lots of fictional detectives find crime wherever they go, even when they're trying to get away from it. Can Hercule Poirot escape murder, even when he takes a paddle boat up in the Nile on vacation? No. No, he can't. And look at Inspector Morse. A quiet little college town like Oxford is turned into a charnal house. There should be a big "Second Coming" headline: JESSICA FLETCHER DESTROYS CABOT'S COVE. Let's face facts. These guys are detriments to society. You want to rid the world of crime? It's simple. You just lock up all the detectives. The only fictional detective who ever found himself between cases was Sherlock Holmes, and he had his cocaine to liven up his life.

In this one, which I believe is the only film in which Drummond was played by Milland, the detective has his car stolen by a pretty woman, traces her to a mental institution for the up-trodden, finds she is being held prisoner because of something to do with fake war bonds, enlists the aid of his pal Algie and his butler Tenny, rescues her after many tribulations, and rushes off to get married.

Either Milland or the director, James P. Hogan, made a mistake, I think, in allowing the character of Bulldog Drummond to be played as an eager Eagle Scout. Milland never put such energy into another role. (He was a fine, suave villain in Hitchcock's "Dial M For Murder," by the way.) Here, his eyes bulge, his vocal contours take on the outline of a roller coaster, and overall he's very animated. (Some might call it "overacting.") The rest of the cast go through their B-movie motions, hit their marks, and say what they're supposed to say. The young woman in jeopardy is Heather Angel. She has a great name but little to do. Porter Hall isn't really convincing as the chief heavy. He's not the criminal director of an insane asylum. He's an ordinary guy from Medford -- Medford, Oregon.

The plot has a lot of twists and turns but none are particularly memorable. They've all been used at one time or another in some Charlie Chan movie. Let's see, there is a lot of sneaking around in the shrubbery in the fog, a pistol slowly extrudes from behind a curtain, there's a secret door in the wall that's activated by pressing a button, a body sinks into a dangerous marsh, the hero sneaks into the nest of vipers through a window, a running gag is that poor Algie is about to become a father and continually tries to get to a phone and find out what's happening, Porter Hall fires his pistol holding it chest high and close to his sternum (which I think I prefer to his holding it at arms' length sideways), a couple of constables guarding Milland are served drugged drinks, Milland never loses his fedora or finds his necktie askew.

All in all, a fast-paced, good-natured slog through very familiar territory. It does what it was presumably designed to do -- entertain and distract an audience on a Saturday afternoon in 1937. They had plenty to be distracted from.

The title of Bulldog Drummond escapes is certainly misnomer. Not only does Ray Milland as Bulldog Drummond not escape, but he needs a bit of rescuing before the film is over.

Adventure just seems to find Bulldog Drummond in a lot of films including this one. He's just driving along when he stops to avoid hitting Heather Angel out on the road. Then Milland hears some shots and goes to investigate, when he comes back she and his car are gone. When the car is recovered from a ditch, she's conveniently left a handkerchief and calling card. Of course Milland is convinced she needs rescuing, though police inspector Guy Standing is not convinced at all, in fact he acts rather obtuse about it.

Of course this Angel has fallen into the hands of a gang counterfeiters and cutthroats led by Porter Hall. Milland does his best, but does require help before the film is over.

Reginald Denny and E.E. Clive are also on hand as Drummond's silly pal Algy who isn't quite sure how he became a father and E.E. Clive his all knowing butler. Denny's character is more silly than amusing.

Milland is fine, but this film is sure not up to either of the Ronald Colman films.

"Bulldog Drummond Escapes" was originally released back in 1937.

This is the only Bulldog Drummond film to star Ray Milland as our heroic adventurer who must try to rescue his kidnapped fiancee, Phyllis Clavering. She is being held prisoner on a country estate by a supposed friend who is scheming to steal her fortune. When her brother is killed the perpetrators then stalk Bulldog and his pal, Algy Longworth.

An uncommonly young (and handsome) Ray Milland makes a perfectly adequate Bulldog Drummond in his one and only take on the role; some of his line readings are very amusing ("He IS bearded!"). The film itself sticks close to the formula of its predecessors (a young woman in distress, abducted and held against her will, by a smooth-talking villain who is hoping to get rich not so much through her, but through one of her relatives, etc.), except that the woman this time (Heather Angel) is a great proto-feminist heroine, with a knack for knocking bad guys over the head with various objects (she accidentally does this to Drummond himself once!). The film is also a bit too talky, but the cast, both main and supporting, keeps it watchable. **1/2 out of 4.

Ray Milland (Bulldog Drummond), Heather Angel (the lady in distress), Sir Guy Standing (commissioner), Reginald Denny (Algy), Porter Hall (Merridew), E.E. Clive (Tenny), Fay Holden (Mrs Seldon), Patrick J. Kelly (Stiles), Guy Kingsford (Stanton), Charles McNaugthton (slow-witted constable), Clyde Cook (second constable), Doris Lloyd (nurse).

Director: JIMMY HOGAN. Screenplay: Edward T. Lowe. Based on the stage play Bulldog Drummond Again by Gerard Fairlea and H.C. "Sapper" McNeile. Photography: Victor Milner. Film editor: William Shea. Art directors: Hans Dreier and Earl Hedrick. Set decorator: A.E. Freudeman. Music director: Boris Morros. Producer: Edward T. Lowe.

COMMENT: The first and best of the 1937-39 Paramount series, smartly paced by Jimmy Hogan, with Ray Milland playing the adventurous hero delightfully tongue-in-cheek to Angel's wanly beautiful heroine, is available on an excellent Critics' Choice DVD on the original green- tinted stock.

Menacing sets and noirish photography really impress.

But of course, my chief reason for adding this excellent DVD to my collection was to revel in its colored tint. I really enjoyed tinted movies, but they were not popular with the majority of suburban picture-goers. They found the tint "distracting" would you believe! Full color was okay. Black-and-white was okay. Sepia was even okay. But a green tint? No way! Too way out! Too unusual! Too uncomfortable!

It's a standing joke in the upcoming series of Bulldog Drummond films starring John Howard that he'll be in preparation to marry the character of Phyllis and something will happen at the beginning of the film to prevent that from happening. Here's where they first encounter each other, played by different actors, so the mood becomes lighter as the series goes on.

Ray Milland, who was mainly appearing in second leads, has his only opportunity to play Drummond, not yet the seasoned actor who would win an Oscar, and Heather Angel plays Phyllis, a young woman in trouble who ends up being played by Louise Campbell hence forth, always waiting for him to solve his case so they can go on with their plans.

I found this much more serious a film than the ones with Howard, although E. E. Clive and Reginald Denny do provide humor, with Clive getting more groans than laughs. Sir Guy Standing plays the role that John Barrymore would soon take over, much more blustery, reminding me of C. Aubrey Smith and his cartoon counterpart, Colonel Crittendon, from the "Bullwinkle" series. The film deals with a counterfeiting ring, complex and confusing at times, but it's action packed and never tedious. I enjoy Howard as Drummond much more than Milland, although no one can compare to Ronald Colman.