Calling Bulldog Drummond – 1951 | 80 mins | Crime | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Calling Bulldog Drummond sees the sleuth comes out of retirement to assist Scotland Yard in capturing a gang of thieves operating on a military scale. H.C. ‘Sapper’ McNeile’s famous fictional detective had been popular in films during the 1920s and 30s, so MGM attempted to reboot the franchise with American import Walter Pidgeon. Whereas earlier films had more adventure and light-hearted derring-do, Victor Saville’s film is noirish, thanks to Freddie Young’s atmospheric cinematography, and a fairly routine detective story with Bulldog’s sidekick Algy played straight by David Tomlinson. Pidgeon was at the time of filming in his mid-50s and perhaps getting long in the tooth for the action scenes normally required of an ex-army adventurer. This film may perhaps appeal to those who enjoy a hard-boiled well-scripted crime story but disappoint those expecting a boys-own adventure.

When a gang of thieves operating with military precision in London are eluding Scotland Yard, Inspector Mac McIver (Charles Victor) calls on retired British army captain and amateur sleuth Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond (Walter Pidgeon) to assist in capturing the crooks. Hugh pretends to have flown to South Africa having been caught cheating at poker, but in actual fact goes undercover at Ardmore Mansions with Sgt. Helen Smith (Margaret Leighton) to pose as a pair of crooks in love; Joe Crandall and Lily Ross.

Sgt. Smith makes the acquaintance of Arthur Gunns (Robert Beatty), who invites her to his waterfront nightclub, The Last Word, frequented by the local underworld figure. Arthur believes they’re a pair of genuine crooks and spends the following day checking them out, subsequently proposing he could put some work their way. Meanwhile, back at Drummond’s farm, his best friend ‘Algy’ Longworth (David Tomlinson) receives a mystery visitor looking for Hugh. Algy believes Hugh has covertly returned to detective work and reveals his suspicions to Colonel Webson (Bernard Lee), but unbeknown to him, Webson is the secret leader of the gang and he’s blown Drummond’s cover. The gang go ahead with their next daring raid; dressed in military uniform their plan is to steal gold bullion from a plane at the Metropolitan airport. Hugh escapes his captors and overpowers Arthur at the gang’s hideout, then finally comes face to face with the gang leader.