Bulldog Sees It Through

Bulldog Sees It Through
Spanish poster
Directed byHarold Huth
Written byLeslie Arliss
Patrick Kirwan
Doreen Montgomery
Based onnovel Scissors Cut Paper by Gerard Fairlie[1]
Produced byWalter C. Mycroft
StarringJack Buchanan
Greta Gynt
Sebastian Shaw
David Hutcheson
CinematographyClaude Friese-Greene
Edited byFlora Newton
Music byMarr Mackie
Production
company
Distributed byPathé Pictures International (UK)
Release date
  • 14 September 1940 (1940-09-14)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Bulldog Sees it Through is a 1940 British, black-and-white, mystery war film directed by Harold Huth and starring Jack Buchanan, Greta Gynt, Googie Withers, Ronald Shiner and Sebastian Shaw.[2][3] It was written by Leslie Arliss, Patrick Kirwan and Doreen Montgomery.

Plot

This is not a Bulldog Drummond picture despite the title playing off Jack Buchanan and his previous association with the character. Here he plays the role of Test Pilot 'Bulldog' Bill Watson. His friend Derek Sinclair is convinced that the new man in his love's life is collaborating with the Nazis by sabotaging an armaments plant.[4]

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This highly topical and actionful story is put over at a good pace, and with more than a spicing of comedy. It works up to a really thrilling climax, while the secret of the identity of the villain is well kept. Jack Buchanan is in his element. He works tremendously hard, and his zest and gaiety are infectious and engaging. He carries the main burden on his shoulders and apparently enjoys it. The other players back him up loyally, and make an effective team. The production qualities are good, and the settings suitably varied and pleasantly familiar."[5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture is described on the Trade show ticket as a smashing melodrama of spies, saboteurs and wreckers on the rampage. Apart from a tendency to overdo the comedy in the opening stages the sponsors' estimation of their product is reasonably correct. As in most espionage comedy melodiamas, the climax is the thing, and in this department the film leaves nothing to chance. The attempt to homb the Houses of Parliament is not only a good thrill but leads to the unexpected. With star and title values to help it over, the film is a cast-iron project for the ninepennies."[6]

The Observer wrote in 1940, "a prophetic but slow-footed war-time thriller, chiefly notable for the first really good impersonation of Lord Haw-Haw."[7]

References

  1. ^ Goble, Alan (8 September 2011). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943.
  2. ^ "Bulldog Sees It Through". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Bulldog Sees It Through (1940)". BFI. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016.
  4. ^ Hal Erickson. "Bulldog Sees It Through (1940) - Harold Huth - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  5. ^ "Bulldog Sees It Through". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 7 (73): 71. 1 January 1940. ProQuest 1305801543.
  6. ^ "Bulldog Sees It Through". Kine Weekly. 279 (1724): 18. 2 May 1940. ProQuest 2339656955.
  7. ^ "Bulldog Sees It Through (1940)". Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.