HE WENT TO A MYSTERIOUS TRYST ARMED ONLY WITH A TOOTHBRUSH AND A GUN. HE DIDN’T HAVE TO USE THE TOOTHBRUSH.

Retired captain Bulldog Drummond (Ronald Colman) is bored and takes out an ad in the paper, offering his services for ”excitement”; when Phyllis Benton (Joan Bennett) contacts him, he gets what he asked for.

Not the first, but the most classic of Bulldog Drummond adaptations, featuring Colman in his first talkie. He had no problem crossing that barrier and provides a lot of charm as the dashing officer who tangles with a gang who are holding a wealthy man hostage in a hospital. An unusually well-made film for an early talkie; moves fast, has a disarming sense of humor and impressive sets.

A simple tale, with generic villains, but Claud Allister and Wilson Benge are fun as Bulldog’s assistants.

1929-U.S. 90 min. B/W. Directed by F. Richard Jones. Screenplay: Sidney Howard, Wallace Smith. Play: Herman C. MacNeile. Art Direction: William Cameron Menzies. Cast: Ronald Colman (Hugh ”Bulldog” Drummond), Claud Allister (Algy Longworth), Lawrence Grant (Dr. Lakington), Montagu Love, Wilson Benge, Joan Bennett. 

Trivia: Drummond next appeared in Temple Tower (1930); Colman returned to the role in Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934).

Quote: “My dear old boy. Danny and I have decided that if you will carry on with a voluptuous, blackmailing, breach-of-promise female, you’d much better do it in London where you can be near your lawyer.” (Allister to Colman)