Londres a medianoche

This is a good, easily enjoyed undercover police story, with a bit of the "Big Heist" caper film the British practically made a national genré of. But it is not any sort of a classic, it's not what one could say was action-packed, it concentrates more on suspense.

The problem with it is mainly in its being sold to us as a Bulldog Drummond story. First, Walter Pidgeon might be a versitile actor, and he does this film with his expected competency, and if his character were named John Smith it would be just fine, but he's not right to be Bulldog Drummond. He's a bit too formal, serious, and old to play him, especially after we have seen someone like John Howard fill the role so well. What about the other characters? Algy is now a serious, and colorless, far secondary figure, Tenny isn't in it at all, nor is Mrs. Drummond.

If nothing else, it would seem they just took a cops and robbers story and decided it would sell better on the back of a well known character that had gone dormant, so, without any more consideration than that, they made a Bulldog Drummond movie.

This Bulldog Drummond is actually pretty darn good. It could be any detective vs bad guys but that's irrelevant. The story makes sense, is mostly well lighted, the girl is pretty and doesn't faint or scream, Walter Pigeon makes for a good Bulldog brought out of retirement (which he spends raising prize pigs) and annoying Algy is not quite as annoying this time.

Recommended by someone who has only three more to go in their Bulldog Drummond Binge... plus a couple not available !

"Calling Bulldog Drummond" is my first exposure to this character, so I can't judge the film or the acting the way others on this site do. I will be seeing more Bulldog films in the future, and perhaps I can look at this one again.

Walter Pidgeon is Bulldog Drummond, and his costar is Margaret Leighton. Both are working undercover to unmask a gang of thieves.

I always enjoy Walter Pidgeon, and he acquits himself well. Is he Bulldog? I don't know because I haven't seen the other films. He is certainly charming and has a light touch on the material. Victor Saville does a good job of directing. The film moves along, and the story is interesting.

The standout here is Margaret Leighton, a wonderful stage actress whom I believe played the original Hannah in "Night of the Iguana" on stage - I could be wrong there. She is excellent, slipping into her low-rent character and back into her policewoman persona beautifully. A real find.

Very enjoyable, but I take it NOT if you're familiar with the entire Bulldog Drummond series, which I'm looking forward to seeing.

Walter Pidgeon and Margaret Leighton make as good a pair here as William Powell and Myrna Loy as that other detective couple; but unfortunately this was the only instance of Leighton and Pidgeon appearing together, while they obviously enjoyed it the more for being just once, crowning all the Bulldog Drummond films wit a witty masterpiece. Although it is a criminal film getting very serious indeed with bank robberies, shoot-outs and fisticuffs enough, it is highly enjoyable and almost hilarious in certain turns. The dialog is everything, the action is just routine, the plot is easy to begin with but gets complicated, but on the whole it is an excellent film. Walter Pidgeon is still doing excellently well for being so old here, while Margaret Leighton steals the show with flying colours - I have never seen her better.

And one only, in my opinion.

That reason is Margaret Leighton. She is a wonderful actress, on-stage as well as on the screen. We have few chances to see her, though. I think that's especially true in the United States.

Here she plays a sympathetic role. Not only that but she is also very pretty and meant to be something of a bombshell.

Walter Pigeon does not hold up the tradition of Drummond performers. He is always reliable but he's not much fun. He's not a rascal or a knave. Consequently, this seemed to me a talky endeavor with little action or suspense. But check it out for Leighton.