Calling Bulldog Drummond

Bulldog Drummond, as portrayed by Walter Pidgeon here, gets a call form the police. There's a new criminal gang terrorizing London, and no one knows anything about it. Pidgeon allows himself to be caught cheating at cards, and supposedly flees the country, while the club considers whether to expel him. David Tomlinson, playing Algy Longworth, is thoroughly confused. Meanwhile, Pidgeon has gone undercover with police sergeant Margaret Leighton to infiltrate the gang, which he does with great ease.

Pidgeon spent most of his quarter-century at MGM squiring around the ladies, and playing well-mannered individuals. Here's a late entry in his leading man resume. While he maintains his genial charm throughout, the movie was a total failure at the box office, and was Pidgeon's last leading man on the silver screen. Perhaps the poor way the parts of the story fit together had something to do with it. Even so, the MGM gloss, great camerawork by Freddie Young, anda generally genial attitude by all hands makes this one watchable.

Pidgeon was a welcome presence for another quarter of a century, never had an unkind word for anyone, a great store of dirty limericks, and a perfect contentment with his lot in life. He died in 1984 at the age of 87.

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.

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.

A very well-plotted and well-written entry, though, as noted before, it doesn't have the usual cast of characters we know and love. No E. E. Clive. No Heather Angel. BUT, it is a really well shot and directed movie. It moves along briskly. No wasted scenes or moments.

The big treat for me is the performance of Leighton. She doesn't just hold her own alongside Pigeon, I think she outshines him. She has a subtle touch and has no problem shifting from tart to Scotland Yard operative within the same scene. Her classic training on the English stage shows...in all the right ways.

MrMovieGuy.com

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 !