Well, Hugh Drummond (John Howard) and Miss Phyllis Clavering (Heather Angel) finally tie the knot in this finale to the Bulldog Drummond series, but not without the usual share of mishaps that interrupted their union more than a half dozen times in the past. This time it's a slick bank thief that diverts Drummond and Scotland Yard's Colonel Nielson (H.B. Warner), with the misadventures making their way from London to France.
Henri Armides (Eduardo Cianelli) is eventually fingered as the mastermind behind an explosion at the London and Southminster Bank, masking the theft of ten thousand pounds in British notes. His escape involves a clever ruse as a painter, winding up in a London flat recently rented by Miss Clavering. His bit borders on insanity, especially when he boldly takes a paintbrush to Algy Longworth's tie in an effort to better match his suit. Watch carefully when Armides dumps an entire bucket of paint on Algy's head; as both slip and slide on the wet floor, the thief drops the bucket and even more paint comes splashing out of it!
With Drummond's repeated declarations that the wedding is still on, and Miss Clavering doubtful as ever, she takes off for Targemont, France, the proposed site of the nuptials. When Armides learns that Drummond has sent Phyllis' radio to Targemont, he makes his plans to follow as well; the stolen notes were hidden inside the radio.
It's in this film that Colonel Nielson suffers the most indignity at the hands of the script writers. Usually Nielson, especially when portrayed by John Barrymore, kept his professionalism intact while Drummond and Company rode herd on the target villain. Here he comes across as somewhat inept, though his assistant Inspector Tredennis (John Sutton) manages to throw Drummond a zing when he wires the French authorities claiming that Drummond is really an international spy. It only works long enough for the proverbial all hell to break loose.
The frenetic chase for Henri Armides coincides with the marriage ceremony, and in a rather innovative sequence, the wedding begins in a jail, proceeds to a French village rooftop, and concludes at the home of Phyllis' Aunt Blanche (Elizabeth Patterson). But at least Miss Clavering got her man!
With the late 1930's Drummond series complete, the only actors to have made it through the entire stretch of nine films were Bulldog's sidekicks, Reginald Denny as Algy Longworth, and E.E. Clive as butler Tenny. Phyllis Clavering was depicted by Louise Campbell and Heather Angel; Colonel Neilson was variously portrayed by John Barrymore (3X), Guy Standing (once), and H.B. Warner (3X). Even Drummond himself was played by John Lodge and Ray Milland one time each before John Howard settled in to take on the role in seven films. Each mystery was done in a light hearted and comedic style, contrasted with the usually serious dramas presented in the Charlie Chan and Mr. Wong films of the era. However if you're a fan of the genre like me, you'll have fun with each movie, no matter which detective is doing the sleuthing.
Henri Armides (Eduardo Cianelli) is eventually fingered as the mastermind behind an explosion at the London and Southminster Bank, masking the theft of ten thousand pounds in British notes. His escape involves a clever ruse as a painter, winding up in a London flat recently rented by Miss Clavering. His bit borders on insanity, especially when he boldly takes a paintbrush to Algy Longworth's tie in an effort to better match his suit. Watch carefully when Armides dumps an entire bucket of paint on Algy's head; as both slip and slide on the wet floor, the thief drops the bucket and even more paint comes splashing out of it!
With Drummond's repeated declarations that the wedding is still on, and Miss Clavering doubtful as ever, she takes off for Targemont, France, the proposed site of the nuptials. When Armides learns that Drummond has sent Phyllis' radio to Targemont, he makes his plans to follow as well; the stolen notes were hidden inside the radio.
It's in this film that Colonel Nielson suffers the most indignity at the hands of the script writers. Usually Nielson, especially when portrayed by John Barrymore, kept his professionalism intact while Drummond and Company rode herd on the target villain. Here he comes across as somewhat inept, though his assistant Inspector Tredennis (John Sutton) manages to throw Drummond a zing when he wires the French authorities claiming that Drummond is really an international spy. It only works long enough for the proverbial all hell to break loose.
The frenetic chase for Henri Armides coincides with the marriage ceremony, and in a rather innovative sequence, the wedding begins in a jail, proceeds to a French village rooftop, and concludes at the home of Phyllis' Aunt Blanche (Elizabeth Patterson). But at least Miss Clavering got her man!
With the late 1930's Drummond series complete, the only actors to have made it through the entire stretch of nine films were Bulldog's sidekicks, Reginald Denny as Algy Longworth, and E.E. Clive as butler Tenny. Phyllis Clavering was depicted by Louise Campbell and Heather Angel; Colonel Neilson was variously portrayed by John Barrymore (3X), Guy Standing (once), and H.B. Warner (3X). Even Drummond himself was played by John Lodge and Ray Milland one time each before John Howard settled in to take on the role in seven films. Each mystery was done in a light hearted and comedic style, contrasted with the usually serious dramas presented in the Charlie Chan and Mr. Wong films of the era. However if you're a fan of the genre like me, you'll have fun with each movie, no matter which detective is doing the sleuthing.