Solemplex
To me, this movie is perfection.
Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Beanbioca
As Good As It Gets
wes-connors
British adventurer John Howard (as Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond) is all set to marry girlfriend Louise Campbell (as Phyllis Clavering), but a strange plot to steal the explosive "Haxtonite" from a plane sidetracks their nuptials. For this film series, that's par for the course. Scotland Yard investigator John Barrymore (as Colonel Nielson) is first informed about the explosive plot. He hopes his friend Drummond will get on with his marriage, after several cancellations. Driving with his pal Reginald Denny (as Algy Longworth) and manservant E.E. Clive (as Tenny), Drummond witnesses the plane crash and finds a dismembered hand and suitcase in the wreckage. When the plot thickens, Drummond must solve the mystery. Directed by Louis King, "Bulldog Drummond's Revenge" is fast, confusing and lacks the "Revenge" suggested by its title.**** Bulldog Drummond's Revenge (1937-12-16) Louis King ~ John Howard, John Barrymore, E.E. Clive, Louise Campbell
gridoon2018
At this point, the "Bulldog Drummond" film series seems to be merely going through the motions, and the films are starting to blend together. Although the plot of "Revenge" (amazingly inaccurate title, by the way) involves a powerful explosive that could theoretically wipe out an entire city, there is nothing interesting or urgent about it. And there are no memorable scenes in the film, except for a plane crash and a severed hand. The cast is largely going through the motions as well, except for E.E.Clive who continues to score with his comic deliveries. I did prefer John Barrymore's more serious, less disguise-heavy take on the role of Colonel Neilson, compared to the previous entry. Louise Campbell's Phyllis is around mostly to scream and faint. ** out of 4.
longrush
The best part of this movie is unintended: 1937 England preserved with its autos, planes, streets and attitudes. The plot is hardly new. There's an invention (crystals in this case) that would prove disastrous if it should fall into the hands of the wrong people. Just who the wrong people are is not mentioned, but in retrospect they would seem to be the Nazis. Anyone who has watched many movies or serials from the period will recognize the plot quickly--and anticipate the ending.The Bulldog Drummond hero bears little resemblance to the character created by "Sapper" McNeile. His marvelous series of books are about a much rougher individual who, having enjoyed the adventure and danger of the World War, advertises in the newspaper for interesting quests and assignments. Drummond of the novels is more of a daredevil than a detective.For reasons I'd be hard pressed to explain, the makers of this movies inserted some really insipid humor--rather, attempts at humor. Drummond's sidekick, Algy, and Algy's stupid girlfriend aren't funny. They are merely annoying.Still, this is an enjoyable view of a world now gone. Not only that, it has John Barrymore in a role that is a considerable comedown for his talents.
Hitchcoc
I had never seen one of these before, so I wasn't aware of the dynamics of Drummond, his fiancée, the butler, and the scatterbrained friend, Algie. Obviously, the play for humor often trumps the seriousness of the events unfolding. In this one, a secret explosive is concealed in a suitcase that finds its way from person to person, with most not knowing that even a small amount of the junk could send everyone up in smoke. The suitcase is jarred, thrown, kicked, run with, but, of course, remains inert. The byplay with the regular characters is okay, once you get used to the fact that 1937's humor is a bit different than 2006. The one character that I couldn't tolerate was Algie's significant other who cackles and squawks and runs off at the mouth. Once we get into the intrigue and figure out who is who, it is a nice little spy story. Drummond, of course, is the playboy type never becomes flustered and treats things that are deadly serious as a joke. One thing that has bothered me in the three I have watched is how seldom the character listen to each other.
