Summary
Bulldog Drummond at Bay is a 1947 American adventure crime mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Ron Randell for the first time as the British sleuth and adventurer Bulldog Drummond. The cast also includes Anita Louise, Patrick O'Moore and Terry Kilburn.[1]
| Bulldog Drummond at Bay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Sidney Salkow |
| Screenplay by | Frank Gruber |
| Based on | H.C. McNeile (as Sapper) |
| Produced by | Louis B. Appleton Jr. Bernard Small |
| Starring | Anita Louise Patrick O'Moore Terry Kilburn Holmes Herbert Ron Randell |
| Cinematography | Philip Tannura |
| Edited by | Aaron Stell |
Production company | Venture Pictures |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film is loosely based on the novel Bulldog Drummond at Bay by H. C. McNeile.[2]
Plot edit
When thieves rob his country estate, Bulldog Drummond uncovers a deadly jewel caper involving foreign agents trying to steal plans for a top-secret British aircraft.
Cast edit
- Ron Randell as Bulldog Drummond
- Anita Louise as Doris Hamilton
- Patrick O'Moore as Algy Longworth
- Terry Kilburn as Seymour
- Holmes Herbert as Inspector McIvar
- Lester Matthews as Shannon
- Leonard Mudie as Meredith
Production edit
The Bulldog Drummond series had been popular B movies before the war. In June 1946 it was announced Venture Pictures, a Columbia producing unit headed by Lou Appleton and Bernard Small, had done a deal with the estate of H.C. McNeile to make two Bulldog Drummond pictures, with an option to provide six more (the last one had been Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939)). John Howard had played Drummond in the 1930s but it was decided to use a new actor in the part.[3]
In November 1946, it was announced that Drummond would be played by Ron Randell, an Australian actor who was signed to a long term contract with Columbia off the back of his performance in Smithy.[4] Sidney Salkow would direct with filming to start in December.[5] According to Appleton, "We wanted a new film face and someone with a British way of speaking."[6]
Former child star Terry Kilburn was given an adult role.[7]
Critical reception edit
The Monthly Film Bulletin called Randell "an attractive personality... a worthy successor as Drummond."[8]
Leonard Maltin called the film an "innocuous British 'quota quickie'" [9]
Filmink wrote "This was an okay film, a little creaky – Randell wasn’t quite comfortable in the lead. "[10]
References edit
- ^ Hal Erickson. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947) – Sidney Salkow – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947)". BFI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
- ^ "VENTURE TO REVIVE DRUMMOND SERIES: Studio Plans to Make 2 Films of H.C. McNeile Character-- 3 Pictures Arrive Today". New York Times. 26 June 1946. p. 19.
- ^ Lookinq at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 23 Nov 1946: 17.
- ^ RON RANDELL TO DO FILM FOR COLUMBIA: ONE-THIRD OF CAST Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 23 Nov 1946: 22.
- ^ "Ron Randell's good start in Hollywood". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 14, no. 32. 18 January 1947. p. 28. Retrieved 20 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ ASSORTED NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE AND PICTURES: New York Times 22 Dec 1946: 49.
- ^ Billdog Drummond at Bay Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (Jan 1, 1947): 96.
- ^ "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947) – Overview". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (10 August 2019). "Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty". Filmink.
External links edit
- Bulldog Drummond at Bay at IMDb
- Bulldog Drummond at Bay[dead link] t BFI
- Bulldog Drummond at Bay at TCMDB
- Bulldog Drummong at Bay at Letterbox DVD
- Complete text of novel at Project Gutenberg
