1948-04-30
N/A
64 min
Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is called in to solve the murder of a man from whom two lead soldiers were stolen. Drummond learns that the two soldiers were part of a set of thirteen which formed the key to a hidden vault of treasure. Following some clever sleuthing and set-up on Drummond's part, the guilty man is trapped in the vault,which is hidden behind the fireplace.
Well I have to thank this film for one thing: I now know what a palimpsest is! John Newland ("Algy") get a chance to step up a bit more in this engaging crime drama based around some mysterious lead soldiers - each depicting different figures from history. He, and his boss "Drummond" (Tom Conway) temporarily swap identities before being brought into the mystery when a man is murdered, and his two wee sculptures are pinched. What gives? Well it doesn't take our dynamic duo long before they discover that there are actually eleven more of these metal blighters, and together with an accompanying parchment they could reveal a hidden treasure. Maria Palmer ("Estelle") brings a little intrigue to the proceedings and Harry Cording reprises his oft-visited role as the man with the menace. I think this is one of the better "Bulldog Drummond" adventures. It's well enough paced and Newland and Conway work well together with a gentle humour and bit of help from their disdainful Scotland Yard ally "Insp. McIver" (Gordon Richards) to create quite an enjoyable treasure hunt with quite a strong (if terribly lit) denouement.
