This is your average crime film of the 1930s. Our "hero" is the gentleman adventurer Bulldog Drummond. I think there are 23 films surrounding this character based on H. C. McNeile books.In this "episode" Bulldog has to protect a heiress from impending danger of an espionage organization out to get her inheritance.Really nothing special at all. It's a very average and typical crime film of the 1930s. I think the only people interested are those that are fans of the Bulldog Drummond books and movies. There are better crime films from that time era.2/10

Bulldog Drummond is supposedly the inspiration for James Bond. I don't see it, but Ben Mankiewicz gets a lot wrong. Amazing that TCM doesn't have a fact-checker. In truth, Ian Fleming said 007 was "Drummond above the waist and Mickey Spillane below."This 1937 film stars Ray Milland, who only played Bulldog once. Someone on this board wrote that this film was only a B film, and wasn't Ray Milland a big star at one time? As if his career was on the decline. Actually it was just starting, and while I never thought of him as a superstar, he did come up the ranks after this.In this film, Captain Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond returns to England in his plane. Driving home, a young woman (Heather Angel) lands in front of his car. He doesn't hit her, but she falls.He is attempting to revive her when he hears a shout and gunshots in the woods. He leaves her for a minute, and the woman jumps in his car and leaves. She's left her purse and handkerchief in the car, so he goes to her home, Greystone. She asks him to help her as she is being kept prisoner there.Meanwhile, Bulldog's pal Algy is about to become a father for the first time and is going crazy with worry in the hospital. Guy Standing is the inspector, and when he hears from Bulldog, he tells him to leave town. The Inspector is on vacation and doesn't want to get involved in one of Bulldog's murders.Lots of fun, with Ray Milland a charming Drummond, very attractive, and very smooth. I would have loved to see him in more than just this Drummond film.Many actors have played Bulldog, including Carlyle Blackwood in the silents, Richard Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Beatty, Tom Conway, Ron Randell, John Howard (who played the role 7 times), Ronald Colman, Athol Fleming, Ralph Richardson, Kevin McKenna, and Jack Buchanan. Whew.Actually, the film The Man Who Knew Too Much was a Drummond story adapted by Hitchcock.It's interesting that so many characters were inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Like Sherlock, Bulldog has a sidekick and a nemesis (in the books), Carl Peterson.Looking forward to seeing more of the films on TCM.

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!

Three Bulldog Drummond films were made in 1937 in quick succession, this being the first, and the only one starring Ray Milland as Drummond. It was the eighth Drummond film to be made. It came out in April, 'Bulldog Drummond at Bay' came out in July, and 'Bulldog Drummond Comes Back' came out in September. Each had a different leading man, the next two in succession being John Lodge and John Howard. In this one, the young Ray Milland was amusing and engaging, but over-acted in a way which was not helpful. He portrayed the hero as someone with adolescent, almost juvenile, attitudes, thereby turning Drummond into a rather idiotic parody, and making the whole film too much like a comedy, despite its scenes of danger and distress. The producers instantly realized they had made a mistake and had endangered their plans for a series of films, so they sought someone with more gravitas. The next film used John Lodge once. But after that, inspiration finally came in the form of John Howard, who was perfect casting and would go on to make many Drummond films, with just the right combination of gravitas mixed with a residual boyish sense of fun, openness (never Milland's strong point), and solid, sporting good humour. In this film, Phyllis Clavering is introduced for the first time, and inspired casting occurred when Heather Angel played the part. The producers made a big mistake in having Phyllis played for three more films by the boring Louise Campbell, but Heather Angel would reappear the next year five films later (Phyllis does not appear in one of them), and carry on for several films to great effect. Phyllis enters the world of Drummond as a helpless imprisoned maiden in distress, whom he rescues. Eventually she ends up suspended in his arms, kissing him, with marriage beckoning. (As all Drummondonians know, this marriage would be 'interruptus' on numerous future occasions.) Guy Standing is boring as Inspector Nielson in this film, and they got rid of him too. E. E. Clive as Tennie the Butler, and Reginald Denny as Algy are in fine fettle for this episode, and were to grace the series for a long while with their charm and talents. There is a curious scene in this film where the villains are driving through the gates of a great house in a Rolls Royce. This shot is actually cut from the 1929 'Bulldog Drummond' and re-used! Much of this film is spent with Algy Longworth desperately trying to phone the hospital to see if his wife has had her baby yet. In 'Bulldog Drummond Comes Back', he will be desperately trying to make it to that same baby's christening, while Drummond will be desperately trying to marry Phyllis, the villains preventing both of these things. This film is entertaining and lively if one is not fussy, and has humour as well, so it is good viewing. As Tennie the Butler would say: 'That is my thought exactly, Sir.'