Bulldog Drummond

1929
PG
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Joan Bennett and Ronald Colman in Bulldog Drummond (1929)

A bored WWI veteran helps out a young woman whose uncle is being held hostage by embezzlers.A bored WWI veteran helps out a young woman whose uncle is being held hostage by embezzlers.A bored WWI veteran helps out a young woman whose uncle is being held hostage by embezzlers.

Director
- F. Richard Jones
Writers
- Herman C. McNeile
- Sidney Howard
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.4K

YOUR RATING

Director
- F. Richard Jones
Writers
- Herman C. McNeile
- Sidney Howard
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 5 wins & 2 nominations total

User reviews38

Featured review

8/10

Very good early talkie

VERY early talkie from 1929. It stars Ronald Colman as a wealthy WW1 veteran--Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond. He sets out to help people in trouble. He gets a letter from the mysterious Phyllis (Joan Bennett) who believes her father is being held against his will and tortured in a nursing home. She wants Bulldog to rescue him. He agrees and is helped by his faithful valet and annoying best friend Algy (Claud Allister).

Most early talkies are boring stiff affairs but not this one. It moves quickly, is lots of fun, has exciting action sequences and has a great Oscar-nominated performance by Colman. The sound recording is good and the video is as good as can be expected from a 1929 film. The only negative about this is Allister as Algy. He plays his role WAY over the top and comes across as annoying and unfunny. Halfway through I wanted that guy gone! Him aside though this is an enjoyable and fun early talkie.

preppy-3
Jan 7, 2016
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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The first (and only) sound film for former Mack Sennett director F. Richard Jones. His command of sound and action with this film was very well received, and he looked set for a bright future. Sadly, Jones succumbed to the tuberculosis epidemic that was running rampant at the time. He was only 37.

Goofs
The players in the opening credits are set out in the form of a theatre programme. However, notwithstanding the film takes place in England, the spelling on the programme is the American 'program'. However, while the film is portrayed as taking place in England, it was produced in the U.S.; thus, the Americanized spelling of "program" in the credits is not inconsistent.

Quotes
Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond: Danny, pack my bag. Pyjamas, toothbrush and a gun.
Danny: Please sir. Don't you really think sir? Yes sir.
Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond: On second thought, never mind the pyjamas. Just the toothbrush and the gun.

Crazy credits
The cast listing resembles a play program with six listed names/roles on each of two pages. Both pages have "Program Continued" at the top of the list and "Program Continued On Following Page" at the bottom.

Alternate versions
When first released in France, the film was presented in a talkie version in English with French subtitles and in a silent version.