Sapper's series of Bulldog Drummond novels may have been fascist escapades but the movies on which they were based were more like jolly japes about some chaps who went to school together and never really shook it off - Drummond (John Howard) is an ideal prefect, friendly, brave and basically sensible but always up for an escapade, Algy (Reginald Denny) is a dumb ass but loyal, the butler Tenny (E.E. Clive) sensible, and fiancée Phyllis (Louise Campbell), is exasperated (the story happens on the way to Drummond's marriage to Phyllis). They, along with Algy's equally dumb girlfriend and John Barrymore's Scotland Yard detective, all have an engaging easy-going familiarity with each other, mucking around like one big family, which is the film's best attraction. Story-wise things are less strong - the basic plot is servicable enough (a scientist is killed and his super secret explosive device goes missing), but it's a bit of a long haul to have Drummond just happen to stumble upon the device just after his friend Barrymore has said goodbye to the scientist, then (this is the biggest flaw) just happen to get on the same train as the killer. This is lazy writing. Cast in good form - Howard isn't the most charismatic actor in the world but he tries and has energy, and it's fun to see Barrymore.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Movie review - Bulldog #3 - "Bulldog Drummond's Revenge" (1937) **
Sapper's series of Bulldog Drummond novels may have been fascist escapades but the movies on which they were based were more like jolly japes about some chaps who went to school together and never really shook it off - Drummond (John Howard) is an ideal prefect, friendly, brave and basically sensible but always up for an escapade, Algy (Reginald Denny) is a dumb ass but loyal, the butler Tenny (E.E. Clive) sensible, and fiancée Phyllis (Louise Campbell), is exasperated (the story happens on the way to Drummond's marriage to Phyllis). They, along with Algy's equally dumb girlfriend and John Barrymore's Scotland Yard detective, all have an engaging easy-going familiarity with each other, mucking around like one big family, which is the film's best attraction. Story-wise things are less strong - the basic plot is servicable enough (a scientist is killed and his super secret explosive device goes missing), but it's a bit of a long haul to have Drummond just happen to stumble upon the device just after his friend Barrymore has said goodbye to the scientist, then (this is the biggest flaw) just happen to get on the same train as the killer. This is lazy writing. Cast in good form - Howard isn't the most charismatic actor in the world but he tries and has energy, and it's fun to see Barrymore.
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