Despite his being played by other actors in a long line of sequels, Bulldog Drummond was Ronald Colman, and vice-versa; accept no substitutes (unless of course it is Jack Hulbert in Bulldog Jack, the wonderful Drummond spoof screening June 4). Colman lends his panache to the role, and his elegant diction to this, his first talkie, played for slick action and delightful tongue-in-cheek antics. Drummond is the young British army officer who, bored with post-World War I humdrummery, advertises for adventure and is answered by an American damsel in distress (Joan Bennett). It seems that Uncle is being held captive in an insane asylum until such time as he signs away his fortune to a sadistic physician. It's high anxiety until Drummond gets the uncle, and of course, the girl. Cinematography by both George Barnes and Gregg Toland, as well as sets by William Cameron Menzies, combine to make this a far more polished work than the average transitional film, and one that, as William K. Everson has noted, was unanimously considered the best picture of 1929.