The Challenge

This was the nineteenth Bulldog Drummond film, and the first of the two starring Tom Conway (both made in 1948). It is based on Sapper's novel 'Challenge', and is the second filmed version of that novel, the first being 'Bulldog Drummond in Africa' of 1938, starring John Howard. In this film, there are no gags or laughs at all, and workmanlike director Jean Yarbrough moves things right along, helming a straightforward mystery story. Tom Conway is excellent as a smoothie Drummond, who could be the Falcon. There is no butler. Drummond's friend Algy Longworth is played by a charmless washed-out actor named John Newland, who is about as interesting as a wet biscuit. So we are left only with the main actor and the mystery story, as there is no ensemble. The tale is rather ingenious, and it is a bit of a challenge to figure out where the gold is buried, with the directions to the spot concealed in a series of sails rigged on model sailing ships which keep getting stolen by mysterious people in the dark. June Vincent is the gal, who seems very suspicious for some time, but then we learn who the real villains are. This is an enjoyable Drummond film which makes up for what it lacks in charm with a good yarn. Tom Conway was a very good Drummond in his two appearances in the role, if you like your tales straight up and without any of the bubbles and froth of the more amusing versions.

Another Bulldog Drummond entry that could have been any generic amateur detective and sidekicks.

Tom Conway wasn't bad, just nothing special.

The story was less convoluted than usual and had some clever bits. The film was largely shot in near darkness which resulted in the tussles and bonks on the head being seen as shadows and outlines only (this may have been the result of watching a poor copy)

Interesting side note : Seymour, boy reporter, sidekick was Terry Kilburn aka Tiny Tim in the Reginald Own Christmas Carol and the lad who uttered the immortal "Goodbye, Mr. Chips".

Unlike most of the amateur detective film series characters, Bulldog Drummond was never played consistently by any one actor. In fact, 14 different actors played this adventurer and crime fighter! In "The Challenge", Tom Conway plays the guy...which makes sense, as Conway also starred in the Falcon movie series...one that was pretty similar to the Drummond series.

When the film begins, Drummond's dopey friend, Algy, arrives along with a ship model. It seems the guy accidentally bought it at an auction and he really didn't want it. So, when a lady arrives soon after and she offers to buy it from Algy at a profit, Drummond's detective senses tingle. Why would she be willing to pay this much and why would she go to all the trouble of tracking Algy down for the model? There MUST be something secretly important about the model...and the film is about why the model is so popular.

This is an okay film...not bad, not great. It is interesting how violent the movie is near the end...much more so than what's usual for these B-movies. Overall, a decent film but not as good nor interesting as Conway's Falcon movies.

Algy, in the person of John Newland, has purchased a model ship by accident at auction. June Vincent wants it and is willing to buy it at a profit, but Tom Conway as Bulldog Drummond, saunters through the movie trying to figure out why.

It's definitely a Bulldog Drummond story, being based on a story by 'Sapper'. It's also a pretty good mystery. However, its relationship to the series of stories written by Herman C. McNeile is problematic. When he first showed up, Drummond was a gorilla of a man with extensive scarring from service in the Great War. That didn't last long; the first movie Bulldog was Carlyle Blackwell in 1922, and he was subsequently played by people like Ronald Colman and John Howard. Conway plays this like George Sanders' brother, which he was. Good thing the mystery is difficult to figure out.