Arrest Bulldog Drummond

John Howard is probably best known for playing "Bulldog" in the Bulldog Drummond crime films. Before that, he was "George", the brother that couldn't wait to leave ShangriLa, in Lost Horizon (it's awesome... if you haven't seen it!) and H.B. Warner, who played "Chang" in Horizon is also in this chapter of Bulldog Drummond. While the picture is good, the sound quality is pretty rough, and we miss some just due to the poor quality. These were pretty light-weight roles for Warner and Howard, and it's the usual formula; Drummond gets mixed up in a murder, is held for questioning, and spends the rest of the film solving the crime, to prove his innocence. In this one, he is also getting married, but keeps postponing the ceremony. E.E. Clive is "Tenny", Drummond's butler/sidekick, kind of a running gag. The bad guy (Leonard Mudie) has a ray-gun gadget that can destroy any target that he chooses. and somehow, a stingray from the aquarium is involved. Too random... too many things going on. Very story driven. Script needed some cleaning up or something. It's okay. Not the best one.

Directed by James Hogan... he had directed a bunch of the Bulldog Drummond films, as well as many of the Ellery Queens. Died pretty young at 53. Original stories written by Herman McNeile, who had just died in 1937. The first Bulldog Drummond stories were actually made into silent films. One fun note - Ron Colman (also from Lost Horizon) had played the 1929 Bulldog in "Bulldog Drummond". It's all connected!

ARREST BULLDOG DRUMMOND is another adventure in the prolific series, with our hero unsurprisingly finding himself wrongfully accused of a crime and being forced to go on the run. He's also trying to get married, which seems to be a long-running joke in this particular series. The main story is about the theft of an atomic weapon which seems entirely timely given the era, and the globetrotting antics are quite interesting when you put them into the proper context. The best part of this one is the presence of George Zucco as the scheming mastermind; he propped up many a B-movie with his presence and he does so here too.

Public Media Inc. has released a neat two film set of Bulldog Drummond films on one tape. The other film paired with "Arrest Bulldog Drummond" is "Bulldog Drummond in Africa." If you like The Thin Man series, you may like this as well. If you absolutely love The Thin Man series, you'll probably be disappointed with Bulldog Drummond. John Howard plays "Bulldog," which is something of a misnomer as played here because he's rather quiet, handsome & shy, not what one would expect from a "bulldog." Heather Angel matches well with Howard as his Fiancee in Perpetuity. The movies have charm, wit, a bit of mystery, & solid acting. If you're not expecting William Powell & Myrna Loy, you should be pleased. Anthony Quinn fans note: a very young Quinn has a neat little part in "...Africa." George Zucco fans note: he has a good part in "Arrest...." I rate "Bulldog Drummond in Africa" 7/10, & I rate "Arrest Bulldog Drummond" 6/10.

"Arrest Bulldog Drummond" promises more than it delivers - the science fiction plot has bad hats Zucco & Co. in charge of and selling an explosive electric ray device to the Enemy, with Drummond & Co. out to stop him. The weapon has a range of between a quarter and half a mile - which seems to make it well worth £1,000,000 to a Bad Power. A plan to terrorise London? Nah, it'll never happen.

In 56 minutes it lurches from one improbable scene to another - H.B. Warner is definitely NOT my idea of a Scotland Yard Inspector, sorry, Colonel. Colonel? Zucco and his ... sidekick, Lady Beryl take an almost childish glee in repeatedly demonstrating the weapon to themselves - meaning to the original cinema audience of 11 years olds! Everyone as usual plays their parts well, especially Howard/Angel/Denny & Clive as the unflappable goodie quartet.

Some nice touches here and there, with plenty of witticisms from all concerned, especially Hugh's impending marriage to Phyllis - or not, make it an enjoyable entry in the series. My copy was very poor and choppy but didn't detract too much for me.

Capt. Hugh Chesterton 'Bulldog' Drummond (John Howard) is engaged and about to be married to Phyllis Clavering (Heather Angel.) However, he has to put it off as he is the suspect in a murder. The real murderer bumps off a scientist, beware of the stinger, who invented a laser type death ray that is designed to blow up gunpowder from a distance.

Will Bulldog get the bad guys before they can hatch their insidious plot? Or will Col. J. A. Nielsen, "don't call me inspector', incarcerate Bulldog?

Phyllis takes a positive role and the bad guys anticipate her interference.

The recording of this film is "z" you would never guess that in the same year they made "Gone with the Wind".