BULLDOG DRUMMOND’S REVENGE

US, 1937, 57 minutes, Black-and-white.
John Barrymore, John Howard, Louise Campbell, Reginald Denny, E.E.Clive, Frank Puglia, Nydia Westman, Lucien Littlefield, John Sutton, Miki Morita.
Directed by Louis King.


Not exactly the most accurate title – no revenge on the part of Bulldog Drummond. However, it is another entertaining episode in the series of Drummond films in the mid 1930s. John Howard is assured as Drummond, suave and effective. John Barrymore is Colonel Nielsen, standard performance before he declined and overacted in the role.

The regular supporting characters are present, Louise Campbell as Phyllis, Drummond’s long-suffering fiancee, forever being jilted before they get to the altar, his going on further jobs (and her becoming involved). Reginald Denny as the silly-ass Englishman, Algy, and Nydia Westman is rather hard to take as his prone to hysterics fiancee. E.E.Clive is always very welcome as the butler-valet who is able to go into action, often quite effectively.

As usual, Drummond is about to go to get married, this time going to Switzerland. However, on his visit to the colonel, he learns about a plot and becomes involved. A scientist has invented a very high-powered explosive. The colonel is warned by a Japanese diplomat that foreign powers are interested in stealing the explosives. The scientist flies out with his assistant who then kills him, sends the explosives out by parachute, parachutes himself, and the plane crashes – leaving a hand with the scientist ring on it.

Drummond and co are on the road and see the fall, take the case, not realising how dangerous it is. When they go home, the lights go out and the case is stolen. This leads to various investigations, pursuits, fights – and a train journey where the scientist’s assistant disguises himself as a woman, leading the pursuers on a chase on the train, on the ferry going to friends, Algy being stranded at various times.

There is the usual final confrontation, the rescue of the explosives, and all well, with Phyllis kissing Drummond in the hope that they will eventually be married.

This episode was directed by Louis King rather than James Hogan who did so many of the others.