Bulldog Drummond

Mel Brooks’ High Anxiety is a scrupulous analysis, and there are the Bond films and a myriad of wonderful adaptations (including Alan Ladd’s radio series Box 13), but this is the one true original.

Capt. Drummond extricates himself from the boredom of civilian life by placing an advert in the Times. An American girl answers it, her uncle has been drugged and kidnapped, he’s being held for his signature at Dr. Lakington’s Nursing Home.

The scheming pair of villains, the mad doctor, the Russian and Chinese henchmen, Algy the happy chappie, Danny the sober butler, the electric door, the circus gag, Drummond’s wit and derring-do, but first and last the charming girl whose answer is rescue, make a superb film.