Bulldog Drummond's Revenge: A brisk, silly little mystery

Is it worth your time?

If you like old black-and-white detective flicks where everyone wears a suit even while hiking, you will probably dig this. It moves fast and doesn't ask you to think too hard. If you get annoyed by convenient plot holes or heroes who act like they own the place, just skip it.

There is something inherently funny about a guy trying to get to his own wedding and getting sidetracked by a stolen box of explosives. It feels like the 1930s version of being stuck in traffic. John Howard plays Drummond with that specific brand of British stiff-upper-lip charm that just screams, "I will solve this before tea time."

The pacing is all over the place, which I kind of loved. One minute they are having a polite conversation, and the next, someone is being chased through a train station. It’s not exactly The Lost City in terms of tension, but it keeps you awake.

Odd little things I noticed:

• The Swiss Alps look suspiciously like a cardboard cutout in some shots.
• The dialogue is so snappy it feels like a tennis match.
• Someone actually says, "Good show!" at least three times in the first twenty minutes.
• There is a moment involving a car that is just… physically impossible, but the movie doesn't care, so why should I?

John Barrymore shows up and he is clearly the best thing on screen. He brings a level of gravitas that the movie doesn't really deserve, but he sells it. It makes you wish the other actors were working half as hard.

The middle act sags a bit, like it forgot it had a plot to finish. I found myself staring at the background extras, who seem to be doing absolutely nothing while the main characters argue about dynamite. It’s the kind of movie where you can drift off for five minutes and come back without missing a single beat of the mystery. That’s not a criticism, really. It’s a comfort.

If you've ever seen The Case of Gabriel Perry, you know the vibe. It is light, it is disposable, and it ends exactly how you expect it to. Sometimes that is exactly what you need on a Tuesday night. 🕵️‍♂️

The whole thing feels like a stage play that got a slightly bigger budget for a few train props. It is charmingly stagey. Don't look for deep meaning here. You won't find it. Just watch the suits and the hats and enjoy the ride.