Bulldog Drummond Comes Back: A breezy, slightly dusty relic

Should you watch this?

If you like movies that run under an hour and don't require you to actually keep track of the villains, you'll be fine. If you want a logical mystery, keep looking. It’s a perfect pick for a rainy afternoon where you just want to see some guys in suits chasing each other around 1930s sets.

Honestly, the plot here is thinner than the wallpaper in the villains' lair. Drummond’s girlfriend gets snatched, and he spends about 50 minutes looking slightly annoyed about it.

There is this one scene where they are driving down a country road that looks like it was filmed in a backyard. The background projection is so blurry it makes you feel like you might have cataracts. I couldn't stop looking at the way the trees didn't move properly. It’s kind of hypnotic.

John Barrymore is in this, and he just sort of floats through the scenes like he’s bored of the whole enterprise. It is actually kind of funny. You can tell he’s the only one who knows he’s in a B-movie.

The dialogue is snappy, I guess. It’s got that old-timey, crisp way of speaking where everyone sounds like they just finished a cup of tea. It reminds me a bit of the pacing in No Living Witness, though with way less grit.

I caught myself checking my watch, but not because I was bored. Just because the movie is so short it feels like it might end before the credits even start. It’s like a blink-and-you-miss-it mystery.

Odd little things:

• The villain’s mustache is suspiciously perfect.
• There is a moment where a door closes, and the sound effect is delayed by a full second. Classic.
• The supporting cast seems to be having a contest to see who can look most confused by the script.

It’s not trying to be a masterpiece. It’s just trying to exist for 55 minutes. And it does that just fine, I suppose. 🕵️‍♂️

If you liked the vibe here, it’s not exactly as refined as A Tale of Two Cities, but it’s got its own weird charm. Don't go in expecting a genius detective story. Just go in expecting some guys shouting about kidnapping and then realizing it's almost lunchtime.