The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Writers:

Edmund Beloin (story)
Irving Elinson (additional dialogue)

Release Date:

2 April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Damon Runyan's zaniest Broadway characters come alive with fun...especially the Lemon Drop Kid (Bob, natch!)

Plot:

When the Lemon Drop Kid accidentally steers Moose Moran's girl away from a winning bet, he is forced...

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Safecracker | Beautiful Woman | Horse Racing | Horse

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bob Hope	...	Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
Marilyn Maxwell	...	'Brainy' Baxter
Lloyd Nolan	...	Oxford Charley
Jane Darwell	...	Nellie Thursday
Andrea King	...	Stella
Fred Clark	...	Moose Moran
Jay C. Flippen	...	Straight Flush
William Frawley	...	Gloomy Willie
Harry Bellaver	...	Sam the Surgeon
Sid Melton	...	Little Louie
Ben Welden	...	Singing Solly
Ida Moore	...	The Bird Lady
Francis Pierlot	...	Henry Regan
Charles Cooley	...	Goomba
Salvatore De Lorenzo	...	Street-corner Santa Claus (as Society Kid Hogan)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Hope Enterprises

Trivia:

Frank Tashlin (uncredited) directed about one third of the entire film.

Quotes:

Sidney Melbourne: Santy Claus don't drink.
Gloomy Willie: Oh, no? Well, how come he's always falling down chimleys?

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Silver Bells

Great Hope Classic

Hope's films always spun on his zany sense of humor. In this, a redo of a Damon Runyon story (see Little Miss Marker), Hope is at his best. I noted with interest the comments of one reviewer who bristling with politically correct indignation, accuses Hope of everything from Sexism to nearly murder. True, they were not as tuned into the careful not to offend anyone scene we are now but most of this stuff is pretty mild. Besides, being a senior citizen myself, I was hardly offended. The list of wonderful studio character actors in this film is delightful. Fred Clarke who was at his best as a villain or sleeze ball gives a delightful show as a gangster. And, then there's Marilyn Maxwell: her singing of "Silver Bells," gave us a new Christmas carol that is sung every holiday season. I'm sorry that some of our other reviewers were piqued by this film. I think it has held up well and I still delight at Hope's antics. I guess that dates me. I was in junior high when I saw this film. I loved it then and love it now.