Bulldog Drummond at Bay

Director: Norman Lee Norman Lee

Overview

After making his first appearance as the title character in Paramount's "Bulldog Drummond" series, John Lodge was rushed to England to star in the quota quickie Bulldog Drummond at Bay. Though lacking the polish of Hollywood's Drummond pictures, this one is closer to the original concept of series creator H. C. Neile (aka "Sapper") than any other film. The plot is motivated by the nefarious activities of a gang of munitions smugglers, disguised as a pacifist organization. The leader of the gang is Gregoroff (Victor Jory), justifiably nicknamed "The Mystery Man of Europe." Gregoroff masterminds the kidnapping of the inventor of a revolutionary new robot airplane. Adopting strong-arm tactics that border on the fascistic, soldier-of-fortune Bulldog Drummond (Lodge) tackles the villains, while Scotland Yard remains in the background, presumably twiddling its collective thumbs.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/09/2015
UPC:	0644827432523
Original Release:	1937
Source:	Reel Vault
Language:	English
Sales rank:	50,698

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Lodge	Hugh Drummond
Dorothy Mackaill	Doris Thompson
Victor Jory	Gregoroff
Claud Allister	Algy Longworth
Hugh Miller	Ivan Kalinsky
Leslie Perrins	Maj. Grayson
Richard Bird	Caldwell
Brian Buchel	Meredith
Jim Gerald	Veight
Maire O'Neill	Norah
William Dewhurst	Reginald Portside
Frank Cochrane	Dr. Belfrus

Technical Credits

Patrick Kirwan

James Parrish

Norman Lee	Director
Walter Mycroft	Producer
Patrick Kirwan	Screenwriter
James Parrish	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Bulldog Drummond at Bay is a middling little entry in the series, and one of three Bulldog films released in the same year, each with a different leading man. Bay differs from most of the others in the series in its tone; while most of the entries, especially the subsequent ones starring John Howard, were fairly light, this one is much darker, occasionally even mean spirited. Perhaps this is a result of its being filmed in England somehow, which in 1937 was watching the storm clouds of Nazi Germany inching ever closer and therefore had a more personal relationship to the plot, which involves munitions smugglers. Bay's plot is a fairly by-the-numbers routine, similar to those of any number of other B-movies. There's the occasional snappy rejoinder or flippant remark that packs a little punch, but for the most part the dialogue is conventional. Norman Lee's direction is similar, doing what is expected of it efficiently but without any great flair. In the title role, John Lodge is fine but a bit too refined. Hugh Miller, Dorothy Mackaill and Claud Allister come off better, but the most engaging performance comes from the villainous Victor Jory, who drips evil in a most entertaining manner.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler