Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947 film)

Bulldog Drummond at Bay is a 1947 American adventure crime mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Ron Randell for the first time as the British sleuth and adventurer Bulldog Drummond. The cast also includes Anita Louise, Patrick O'Moore and Terry Kilburn.[1]

For the 1937 film, see Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1937 film).

Bulldog Drummond at Bay
Directed bySidney Salkow
Produced byLouis B. Appleton Jr.
Bernard Small
Screenplay byFrank Gruber
Based onH.C. McNeile
(as Sapper)
StarringRon Randell
Anita Louise
Patrick O'Moore
CinematographyPhilip Tannura
Edited byAaron Stell
Production
company
Venture Pictures
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • May 15, 1947 (1947-05-15)
Running time
70 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film is loosely based on the novel Bulldog Drummond at Bay by H. C. McNeile.[2]

Plot

When thieves rob his country estate, Bulldog Drummond uncovers a deadly jewel caper involving foreign agents trying to steal plans for a top-secret British aircraft.

Cast

Production

The Bulldog Drummond series had been popular B movies before the war. In June 1946 it was announced Venture Pictures, a Columbia producing unit headed by Lou Appleton and Bernard Small, had done a deal with the estate of H.C. McNeile to make two Bulldog Drummond pictures, with an option to provide six more (the last one had been Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939)). John Howard had played Drummond in the 1930s but it was decided to use a new actor in the part.[3]

In November 1946, it was announced that Drummond would be played by Ron Randell, an Australian actor who was signed to a long term contract with Columbia off the back of his performance in Smithy.[4] Sidney Salkow would direct with filming to start in December.[5] According to Appleton, "We wanted a new film face and someone with a British way of speaking."[6]

Former child star Terry Kilburn was given an adult role.[7]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin called Randell "an attractive personality... a worthy successor as Drummond."[8]

Leonard Maltin called the film an "innocuous British 'quota quickie'" [9]

Filmink wrote "This was an okay film, a little creaky – Randell wasn’t quite comfortable in the lead. "[10]

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References
  1. Hal Erickson. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947) – Sidney Salkow – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  2. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947)". BFI. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009.
  3. "VENTURE TO REVIVE DRUMMOND SERIES: Studio Plans to Make 2 Films of H.C. McNeile Character-- 3 Pictures Arrive Today". New York Times. 26 June 1946. p. 19.
  4. Lookinq at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 23 Nov 1946: 17.
  5. RON RANDELL TO DO FILM FOR COLUMBIA: ONE-THIRD OF CAST Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 23 Nov 1946: 22.
  6. "Ron Randell's good start in Hollywood". The Australian Women's Weekly. 14 (32). 18 January 1947. p. 28. Retrieved 20 April 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ASSORTED NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE AND PICTURES: New York Times 22 Dec 1946: 49.
  8. Billdog Drummond at Bay Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (Jan 1, 1947): 96.
  9. "Bulldog Drummond at Bay (1947) – Overview". Turner Classic Movies.
  10. Vagg, Stephen (10 August 2019). "Unsung Aussie Actors – Ron Randell: A Top Twenty". Filmink.


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