Search - Bulldog Drummond Escapes/Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police on DVD

Lighthearted British crimefighter saves the day on this DVD!

Mark Savary | Seattle, WA | 07/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great deal of a DVD. Two features are presented for your viewing pleasure, starring the very entertaining precursor to The Saint, Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond.Created by novelist Herman C. 'Sapper' McNeile, "Bulldog" Drummond was a Captain in World War I. After the war, Drummond missed the life of action his military career offered. He joined the police force, and then resigned to become an independent player in the game of crime and punishment.While each film is only about an hour long, don't let that dissaude you. You'll get a lot of action and fun packed into each movie.In the first feature, "Bulldog Drummond Escapes", a young and handsome Ray Milland plays the famous action-seeker Captain Drummond. Wonderful as always, Milland portrays the character with such whimsy, you'll be hooked right away.Drummond sets out to rescue the beautiful heiress Phyllis Clavering from the unscrupulous forces keeping her prisoner for her fortune. Clavering is played by the ravishing Heather Angel, who quickly became a regular in the Drummond series of movies, playing Drummond's love interest.Reginald Denny plays Drummond's fumbling friend 'Algy' Longworth in both features, and was also a regular in the Drummond films.In the second film, "Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police", the role of Drummond is played by John Howard. Howard brings a "Thin Man" style to the character of Drummond, and is equally delightful.In this one, Drummond is about to marry Phyllis, but a treasure-hunting murderer (played by Leo G. Carroll), turns his stately manorhouse upsidedown.The real winner in both films for the viewer is the wonderful performance turned in by E.E. Clive, who plays the British "gentleman's gentleman" to the upper-crusted hilt.Drummond is very much in the mould of Simon Templar, a.k.a. The Saint. However, Drummond (at least in these two offerings), is more lighthearted in tone, despite the occasional murder.Fans of pre-1940 British films will like the sense of mischevous fun in both films, particularly in the Milland movie. While John Howard is great, and starred in several Drummond movies, it would have been nice to see the young Milland take up the cause of justice again as Captain Drummond."

Fun

tzefirah | Media, PA United States | 06/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Both movies were great fun to watch. If you enjoy the old detective movies of the 30s and 40s, Bulldog Drummond is a lesser known fictional detective from that era. The films are short, but they tell complete stories and have good plot twists, too. The documentation about the movies, discussing Ray Milland as Drummond versus his currently unknown successor, was very interesting. The reviewer was right on target, and I would suggest reading the notes that come with this CD."