The Return of Bulldog Drummond

I am working my way through the Bulldog Drummond films, and Ralph Richardson does a great job as Drummond. Now is he Ronald Colman? No but Colman was one of the All-Time greats ( especially his speaking voice). One thing I never considered Drummond was a tough guy in the Alan Ladd mode, but that is how Richardson played him. They also played down the romance angle ( he was already married to Phyllis) and he did not have much of a sense of humor, again like Ladd and unlike Colman and the later Drummonds like Russell Johnson. I am someone who likes the tough guys giving it to the baddies and I have a high opinion of this movie. See it in HBO Max. 9/10 stsrs.

This film is surprisingly satisfying. The cool and bravado of Ralph Richardson, in word and deed, appear in his every scene. The action is vigorous, and the dominance of opposing forces carries to and fro at a fast pace. The evil Carl Peterson (compare Blowfeld in Bond, Moriarty or Colonel Moran in Sherlock Holmes) is well oiled as a diabolical villain. Cruel as he and his devoted wife or mistress are, each is given a bit of humanity and empathy (blink and you'll miss it) for contrast. As outlandish as The (good) Black Clan is, its members come off as everyday citizens deeply loyal to decency and their country. Richardson as Captain Hugh Drummond is no Commander James Bond, but he matches him for sureness and quickness to act. Though showing its age, this film holds up well in the entertaining age-old battle of good and bad wits and fists.

The most interesting thing about this movie is the eccentric turn of Ralph Richardson as Bulldog Drummond and Francis L. Sullivan as His nemesis Carl Peterson. Plus an early look at the young Ann Todd as Phyllis Drummond. The film reflects some of the crudity of British Film production outside of the films of Alexander Korda. Exhibiting the same level of competence as the 'Poverty Row' studios in Hollywood, like Mascot, Monogram or P.R.C, etc.

Drummond leads a group of armed x-officers (The Black Clan) on a crusade against what is a perceived a threat to World peace led by Mr. Peterson. It was a popular theory that the GREAT WAR (WWI) was caused or manipulated into by Arms Cartels. Peterson's character being based on Basil Zaharoff. A international arms dealer affiliated with VICKERS with a more then suspect past of corruption, shady dealings, possible murder and sabotage too obtain His ends. Make a lot of money at other People's expense.

Well our Hero's accomplish there goals and Peterson meets his deserved end. Is peace brought to the World, well no. Imperial Japan would initiated the fun with the start of the 2nd Sino-Japanese war in 1937. Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia would use the Spanish-Civil War as a testing ground and Italy would trash Ethiopia, wanting too create a new Roman Empire. Then in 1939 things really got going with a BANG, enter WWII! A reality far beyond what was imagined by THE RETURN OF BULLDOG DRUMMOND.

Despite Ralph Richardson taking the lead role, I didn't find this entry in the Bulldog Drummond saga particularly good. The print wasn't good -- a low-contrast 16 mm. print with poor sound -- and the story about how Bulldog and his old regimental pals break up a gang of foreign adventurers-for profit, who unwisely kidnap Mrs. Bulldog (Ann Todd), thinking this will stop him, was Best British Pulp.

The villain in this case is Francis L. Sullivan, who looks to have some fun by occasionally donning a bushy beard and speaking with a Russian accent The actors do their best, but the direction by the uninspired Walter Summers and camerawork by Jack Parker is simple-minded and obvious at all times.

(I can't believe I have watched more than one of these films this year...) Back in 1929 Ronald Colman played Bulldog Drummond, a character from British pulp fiction novels, in an early talking picture. Unfortunately for the movie studios, Ronald Colman actually WAS Bulldog Drummond (a WWI veteran injured on the Western Front, turned playboy and would-be tough guy). Bulldog Drummond had a limp because Ronald Colman had a limp - from WWI shrapnel in his leg. Ronald Colman had a unique style of delivery that contained almost constant wit and sarcasm, regardless of the situation. The movie happened to be pretty great. Kudos to Colman and company (see me review of 'Bulldog Drummond', 1929).

After a five year break, they couldn't get Colman to do a second movie, so they get this dead fish to play Bulldog Drummond. He sucks. And, so goes the rest of the film. They took chances and had some cool effects and camera work (underwater shots and maybe the first appearance on film of an electrified fence). But, no amount of 1934 special effects were gonna save this film.

RealReview Posting Scoring Criteria: Acting - 0.5/1 Casting - 0.5/1 Directing - 1/1 Story - 0.5/1 Writing/Screenplay - 1/1

Total Base Score = 3.5

Modifiers (+ or -): Technical Effects/Make Up: 1 Believability/Consistency: -1

Total RealReview Rating: 3.5 (rounded up to 4 for IMDB)