Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1937): One Eyebrow Up, One Down

Alright. Where do I even begin with this little crime caper? Directed by Louis King, this is one of those films that used to pop up on Swedish late-morning TV back in the day, somewhere between Fika and “Gubbröra”-sandwich. I remember watching it in ’95 after coming back from a failed fishing trip by Mörrum-ån, cold and pretty grumpy, and honestly – the movie didn’t exactly warm me up, but it *did* give me a chuckle.

Ray Milland, that Welsh charmer, steps in as Drummond, our British “gentleman detective” – swanky mustache, swagger, the lot. And then there’s Heather Angel (great name, huh?), playing Phyllis. She’s not just a damsel but actually shows a bit of grit, which surprised me, actually. That’s something you didn’t see much in flicks from the ‘30s.

Honestly, the plot is pure cosiness: Drummond, with his mate Algy (the dorky sidekick – every Brit must have one), gets tangled up in some kidnapping/ransom nonsense, and you get these classic, snappy lines and plenty of tripping over garden hedges. The villainess is played by none other than the glam-looking Porter Hall. Bit camp, but good fun. There’s also that old-school whodunit tension, though sometimes it feels more like everyone’s just trying to remember their lines.

Now, if you’re expecting modern action or anything close to Scandinavian noir grit… mate, this’ll feel as outdated as a Volvo 240 with a rusty exhaust. It creaks, it overacts, and sometimes the pacing is slower than a Stockholm tram on a snowy February morning. But you know what? That’s part of the charm. Like gökotta at 4 a.m. – odd but comforting.

Should you watch it? If you love old-school Brit stuff, or want to giggle at suspiciously clean Villains and dapper detectives, then ja, treat yourself. Just don’t expect it to have you on the edge of your Ikea sofa.

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