Bulldog Drummond
About Bulldog Drummond
Hugh Drummond, bored after the war, advertises in The Times for any excitement. Phyllis Benton answers. Her uncle, John Travers, is held in Dr. Lakington's nursing home while Lakington and Carl Peterson try to force his fortune out of him. Drummond, Algy, and the valet Danny follow her to the Green Bay Inn. The crooks take Phyllis back to the home. Drummond gets Travers out, then makes the mistake of returning him to the inn. Disguised as Travers, Drummond is captured with Phyllis. He strangles Lakington. Peterson's men walk out posing as police. Phyllis tells Drummond she loves him and asks him to let them go.
Cast & crew
More about Bulldog Drummond
F. Richard Jones directed. Samuel Goldwyn produced. Sidney Howard adapted H. C. McNeile's 1921 play, itself from the 1919 novel, with McNeile billed as Sapper. United Artists released it. The New York opening was 2 May 1929. AFI dates the general release 3 August 1929. Shooting began 1 February 1929. Copyright LP593 is 18 July 1929. It runs 90 minutes, 10 reels, 8,376 feet, with Movietone sound. George Barnes and Gregg Toland photographed it. William Cameron Menzies designed it. Frank Lawrence and Viola Lawrence edited. Hugo Riesenfeld wrote the music. Ronald Colman plays Drummond. This was his first talking picture.
Themes
Background
A pre-Code crime picture, it was among the early all-talking adaptations of a stage hit.
Making
Goldwyn started the picture on 1 February 1929, while Colman was moving from silent leads into dialogue.
Look
George Barnes and Gregg Toland shot the Green Bay Inn and Lakington's nursing home. William Cameron Menzies designed the sets.
Music
Hugo Riesenfeld wrote the music. The film is a Movietone dialogue picture.
Preservation
Prints circulate, including a copy of about 89 minutes.
Notes
- Claud Allister plays Algy. Lawrence Grant plays Dr. Lakington. Montagu Love plays Carl Peterson. Wilson Benge plays Danny. Joan Bennett plays Phyllis. Lilyan Tashman plays Irma.
- AFI's synopsis names the uncle Hiram J. Travers. The Wikipedia plot calls him John Travers.
- The 1921 London play starred Gerald du Maurier.
Awards
- National Board of Review Top Ten Films, 1929
Scenes
- Drummond reads Phyllis's answer to the Times advertisement.
- Disguised as Travers, he is taken back to the nursing home.
- He strangles Lakington before Peterson's fake policemen arrive.
Influenced by
- H. C. McNeile's novel Bull-dog Drummond (1919)
- The 1921 play Bulldog Drummond
Also available
- Internet Archive (bulldog-drummond-1929)
- Wikimedia Commons (Bulldog Drummond.webm)
