The action continues with Bulldog Drummond Comes Back, though this is a film that falls much earlier in the chronology of the series (as Drummond has proposed to the first time to Phyllis, I assume it immediately follows Bulldog Drummond Escapes). When a nemesis from the past shows up and kidnaps Phyllis, Drummond, Algy, and Tenny find themselves on a wild goose chase around town, following one seemingly pointless clue after another, with Inspector Nielson close behind in a variety of silly disguises. The simple plot allows for the film to sort of meander around as Drummond and his friends go back and forth listening to phonograph records and deciphering riddles. Once again, it's a lot of fun and, as the film is only an hour long, the cat and mouse game hardly wears out its welcome before Drummond finds himself in a house of traps, struggling to save his beloved from certain doom.

Once again, the cast is superb, but this film really belongs to the venerable John Barrymore (yes, of THAT Barrymore family) as Colonel Nielson. Forbidden by Drummond's nemesis to get involved, Nielson decides to fall back on his old theater days in order to meddle without being detected, assuming the secret identity of a drunken hobo and a corncob pipe puffing salty old fisherman. And as always, Algy falls down and Tenny gets hit on the head.

So far so good. I can't imagine going wrong with Bulldog Drummond.

Labels: Set: Mystery Classics