Bulldog Drummond's Revenge gave us a snappy, highly enjoyable mystery movie in which the titular character never really seeks out any revenge. We follow up that movie with Bulldog Drummond Escapes, a movie in which Bulldog Drummond does escape something at one point, though it's hardly so important an escape that it warrants naming the movie after the act.

This time around, ace busybody and amateur sleuth Bulldog Drummond is played by none other than Ray Milland, looking fit and handsome and for more respectable than he did in The Thing with Two Heads. If you ever watched that film and wondered why anyone thought Milland was dashing or talented, then Bulldog Drummond Escapes might clue you in a little better. He's top notch here in this great little movie.

Bulldog Drummond Escapes finds Drummond back in England to witness the birth of his best friend, Algy's (Reginald Denny -- who would reprise this role in seven other Bulldog Drummond films throughout the 1930s), child. Drummond's presence comes much to the exasperation of Colonel Nielson (Guy Standing, who died shortly after this film's completion in 1937), since Drummond seems to spontaneously generate mysteries and mayhem. Sure enough, despite Nielson's pleading with Drummond to get lost, Drummond soon stumbles upon a mystery involving an heiress imprisoned in her own home by a gang of unscrupulous relatives and hangers-on who plan to steal her fortune. The young woman is no other than Phyllis Claverling, who will become Drummond's put-upon fiance in future films as they develop the running joke that she and Bulldog are on their way to be married when they are diverted by some new mystery that must be solved. Actress Heather Angel plays Phyllis in this entry into the series, as well as most of the future entries, though Louise Campbell played her in Bulldog Drummond's Revenge.

As with the previous film (at least in the order I watched them), the script is fleet-footed and consistently witty. There's no real mystery presented to the viewer -- we know who the villains are and what they want -- but that doesn't detract from the fun of watching Drummond, Algy, and Drummond's trusted butler Tenny (E.E. Clive) run about getting knee-deep in mysterious hijinks. Milland's performance is enthusiastic and engaging, and a fella like me can't help but empathize with Drummond's enthusiasm at getting caught up in such a case. There's a great scene where Milland basically goes giddy as a schoolgirl as he points out the drooping trees, the foggy night, and just how perfect it all is for sleuthing.

His gung-ho performance is buttressed expertly by a cast of experienced character actors who know exactly what to do and when to do it. E.E. Clive is possibly the best wise, adventuring butler ever put on screen -- and yes, weirdly enough, there are a lot of wise, adventuring butlers (Alfred from the Batman stories would probably be the highest profile these days). Both the action and comedic timing is perfect, and Bulldog Drummond Escapes is simply another immensely enjoyable old-fashioned potboiler with a healthy helping of wit and winking.

Labels: Set: Mystery Classics