Dalbert Pringle
(*Fave movie quote*) - "It takes only one false move to make a man a crook."Now 80+ years old - "Bulldog Drummond Escapes" is a fairly entertaining crime-investigation drama set in the "damsel-in-distress" mode.A dashing, young, Ray Milland plays the Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond character with considerable vitality and gung-ho enthusiasm.Why Milland's character was nicknamed "Bulldog" was never explained - But, I thought that a much more appropriate moniker for this love-struck dude would have been "Puppydog".With its story's location set out in the foggy, English countryside - It really killed me that as Drummond was driving down a totally deserted road - (Right out of the blue) - A very complicated case for him to solve (literally) fell right into his lap.All-in-all - This brisk-paced, 65-minute Crime/Drama/Romance was an enjoyable view.
GManfred
The Bulldog Drummond series of films are enjoyable and easy on the IQ. All you have to do is go with the plot and don't ask questions and it's all great fun. This is the first of a newer series (earlier ones starred Ralph Richardson and Ronald Colman) and it stars Ray Milland as a dashing, youthful Bulldog, though in truth, he's a bit over the top with a hyper demeanor and often with a maniacal grin. The cast makes this entry interesting with Reginald Denny as Algy and E.E. Clive as his butler/backup and Porter Hall against type as the villain. There are plot holes and non sequiturs galore but these are typical of this type of entertainment in the 30's. The most egregious I found is in the beginning the damsel in distress (Heather Angel) steals Drummond's car and drives to the estate ... where she is being held prisoner. Don't ask, just enjoy some mindless fun from Paramount.
blanche-2
Bulldog Drummond is supposedly the inspiration for James Bond. I don't see it, but Ben Mankiewicz gets a lot wrong. Amazing that TCM doesn't have a fact-checker. In truth, Ian Fleming said 007 was "Drummond above the waist and Mickey Spillane below."This 1937 film stars Ray Milland, who only played Bulldog once. Someone on this board wrote that this film was only a B film, and wasn't Ray Milland a big star at one time? As if his career was on the decline. Actually it was just starting, and while I never thought of him as a superstar, he did come up the ranks after this.In this film, Captain Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond returns to England in his plane. Driving home, a young woman (Heather Angel) lands in front of his car. He doesn't hit her, but she falls.He is attempting to revive her when he hears a shout and gunshots in the woods. He leaves her for a minute, and the woman jumps in his car and leaves. She's left her purse and handkerchief in the car, so he goes to her home, Greystone. She asks him to help her as she is being kept prisoner there.Meanwhile, Bulldog's pal Algy is about to become a father for the first time and is going crazy with worry in the hospital. Guy Standing is the inspector, and when he hears from Bulldog, he tells him to leave town. The Inspector is on vacation and doesn't want to get involved in one of Bulldog's murders.Lots of fun, with Ray Milland a charming Drummond, very attractive, and very smooth. I would have loved to see him in more than just this Drummond film.Many actors have played Bulldog, including Carlyle Blackwood in the silents, Richard Johnson, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Beatty, Tom Conway, Ron Randell, John Howard (who played the role 7 times), Ronald Colman, Athol Fleming, Ralph Richardson, Kevin McKenna, and Jack Buchanan. Whew.Actually, the film The Man Who Knew Too Much was a Drummond story adapted by Hitchcock.It's interesting that so many characters were inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Like Sherlock, Bulldog has a sidekick and a nemesis (in the books), Carl Peterson.Looking forward to seeing more of the films on TCM.
arfdawg-1
Captain High 'Bulldog' Drummond has just returned to England. As he is driving home in the dark, a young woman jumps out in front of his car. He misses her, but she falls to the ground. As he tries to revive her, he hears a shout for help, then gunshots. As he goes to investigate, the woman drives away with Drummond's car. He is soon able to trace her to nearby Greystone Manor, and when he goes there to meet her, she urges him to help her get out of a desperate situation.This is my first Bulldog Drummond movie. I didn't know Ray Miland was the main actor. Wasn't he a great actor at one time? This is a grade B picture that is studio make an watchable. It's just over an hour long.The best part for me was the first scene where Bulldog flies in from an international trip (he's flying) and customs asks him if he has anything to declare and he says - "no, you can check." Times have changed.It's a watchable film, as I say and Miland is good.
AD
