Bulldog Drummond (1929)

Bulldog Drummond
Directed by F. Richard Jones
Written by Herman C. McNeile
1929/US
The Samuel Goldwyn Company
IMDb page
First viewing/Amazon Prime (free to Members)

No matter where she’s a hiding
She’s gonna hear me a comin’
Gonna walk right down that street
Like Bulldog Drummond
‘Cause I’ve been searchin’  – “Searchin”, The Coasters (1957)

This was the first talking Bulldog Drummond picture though it may be among the last I have yet to see.  Ronald Coleman is perfect in the title role.

Bulldog Drummond (Coleman) is bored to tears after serving in WWI so he places an ad in a newspaper and begins his work as a private eye being hired by Phyllis (a young, blonde Joan Bennett) whose uncle has been kidnapped by extortionists.  Phyllis will become his long-suffering and eternal fiancee in the remainder of the series.  The other running character is Algy, Bulldog’s friend and sidekick.  The actors change many times but the characters remain the same.

These are consistently entertaining mystery/private eye movies with a twinkle in the eye and a bit of excitement.  Ronald Coleman may be the ultimate Bulldog Drummond though The role would also fit Ray Milland like a glove later on.

The film was nominated for Best Actor (Coleman) and Best Art Direction.