Bulldog Drummond at Bay is a 1947 American adventure crime mystery film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring Ron Randell for the first time as the British sleuth and adventurer Bulldog Drummond. The cast also includes Anita Louise, Patrick O'Moore and Terry Kilburn.

The film is loosely based on the novel Bulldog Drummond at Bay by H. C. McNeile.

Plot When thieves rob his country estate, Bulldog Drummond uncovers a deadly jewel caper involving foreign agents trying to steal plans for a top-secret British aircraft.

Cast Ron Randell as Bulldog Drummond Anita Louise as Doris Hamilton Patrick O'Moore as Algy Longworth Terry Kilburn as Seymour Holmes Herbert as Inspector McIvar Lester Matthews as Shannon Leonard Mudie as Meredith

Production The Bulldog Drummond series had been popular B movies before the war. In June 1946 it was announced Venture Pictures, a Columbia producing unit headed by Lou Appleton and Bernard Small, had done a deal with the estate of H.C. McNeile to make two Bulldog Drummond pictures, with an option to provide six more (the last one had been Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police (1939)). John Howard had played Drummond in the 1930s but it was decided to use a new actor in the part.

In November 1946, it was announced that Drummond would be played by Ron Randell, an Australian actor who was signed to a long-term contract with Columbia off the back of his performance in Smithy.Lookinq at Hollywood Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 23 November 1946: 17. Sidney Salkow would direct with filming to start in December.RON RANDELL TO DO FILM FOR COLUMBIA: ONE-THIRD OF CAST Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. 23 November 1946: 22. According to Appleton, "We wanted a new film face and someone with a British way of speaking."

Former child star Terry Kilburn was given an adult role.ASSORTED NOTES ABOUT PEOPLE AND PICTURES: New York Times 22 December 1946: 49.

Critical reception The Monthly Film Bulletin called Randell "an attractive personality... a worthy successor as Drummond."Billdog Drummond at Bay Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 14, Iss. 157, (1 Jan 1947): 96.

Leonard Maltin called the film an "innocuous British 'quota quickie'".

Filmink wrote "This was an okay film, a little creaky – Randell wasn’t quite comfortable in the lead."

References

External links

Bulldog Drummond at Bay t BFI Bulldog Drummond at Bay at TCMDB Bulldog Drummong at Bay at Letterbox DVD Complete text of novel at Project Gutenberg