Bulldog Drummond’s Bride (1939)

On July 12, 1939, Paramount Pictures released the final film in their “B’ series adaptation of the Bulldog Drummond story.  Bulldog Drummond’s Bride (1939)  starred John Howard for the seventh final and time as Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond.  Heather Angel returns as Phyllis Clavering, Drummond’s long time fiance.  Phyllis has given Bulldog Drummond one last chance to marry her or she intends to marry someone else.

john-howard-bulldog-drummond

John Howard as Bulldog Drummond and Heather Angel as Phyllis Clavering

While preparing for the wedding in France, Bulldog Drummond gets pulled into a bank robbery investigation, when the robber uses the Drummond’s future flat as part of the getaway.  The robber hides his ill-gotten gain in a radio, which Phyllis takes to France not knowing about the extra cargo she is carrying.

Like many of Drummond’s adversaries, Henry Armides, played by Eduardo Ciannelli, is a clever criminal.  Armides imitates a madman in a comic scene with Algy Longworth, which allows him to make his escape through an ambulance intent on committing him.  Drummond will have to catch Armides before he can threaten Phyllis.

Drummond also must take his marriage vows or face losing Phyllis forever.  Besides Algy, Drummond is assisted by his loyal butler and partner in crime Tenny.

Normally, films shot at the end of a series are poor reflections of the series.  Directors and writers expend most of their creative energy by the end of a series.  Director John P. Hogan directed his fifth Bulldog Drummond film with this film.  However, Hogan created an entertaining film in the last installment of the series.  Hogan directed 61 films between 1920 and 1943, when he died at 53 years of age on November 4, 1943 from a heart attack.

Bulldog Drummond’s Bride (affiliate link) runs about 59 minutes. Let me know what you think of the last film in the series.

You can leave a comment or ask a question about this or any post on my Facebook page and Twitter profile.

Pin It
Share