The Lemon Drop Kid

Unrated

4/2/19511h 31m

Theatrical Release (US)

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

Overview:

When the Lemon Drop Kid accidentally cheats gangster Moose Moran out of his track winnings, the Kid promises to repay Moose the money by Christmas. Creating a fake charity for "Apple Annie" Nellie Thursday, the Kid tricks his gang into donning Santa suits and "collecting dough for old dolls" like Nellie who have nowhere to live.

Director:

Sidney Lanfield

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

santa claus
con man
con artist

Cast

Bob Hope

~ as ~

Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)

Marilyn Maxwell

~ as ~

'Brainey' Baxter

Lloyd Nolan

~ as ~

Oxford Charley

Jane Darwell

~ as ~

'Nellie Thursday' Regan

Andrea King

~ as ~

Stella

Fred Clark

~ as ~

Moose Moran

Jay C. Flippen

~ as ~

Straight Flush Tony

William Frawley

~ as ~

Gloomy Willie

Harry Bellaver

~ as ~

Sam the Surgeon

Sid Melton

~ as ~

Little Louie

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

John Chard
Written 9 year(s) ago
10
Simply lovely con artist caper delivering mirth for the yuletide season.

The Lemon Drop Kid is directed by Sidney Lanfield (Frank Tashlin uncredited) and based on the short story of the same name written by Damon Runyon (Edmund Beloin adapting). It stars Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan, Jane Darwell, Andrea King & Fred Clark.

It's perhaps a bit unfair to call it purely a Christmas movie? But watching it during the festive holiday season itself more than doubles the impact of the viewing. Bob Hope is The Lemon Drop Kid, a scam artist who during one of his cons at the race track finds himself in debt to a gangster for $10,000. If he doesn't find the money by Christmas day then he's going to be done for in a very grizzly way. We then follow the intrepid Hope on his various escapades to get the money; no mater how morally corrupt it be! A charity scam in the name of an old peoples home brings about much mirth and frivolity, and as the film twists as much as Hope does in his energetic scenes, it leave us with a delightful feel good seasonal offering. The lead cast are fine, with Hope in his element with the material to hand, while Marilyn Maxwell is perfect foil for Hope in the lead female role that calls for gusto and sentiment to be layered equally. While the final cherry on this lovely yuletide cake comes with the Hope/Maxwell rendition of "Silver Bells" that underpins the Christmas flavour of the piece.

It's unlikely to impress hardcore Runyon followers, and those that don't buy into Hope's form of comedy are probably best to avoid it. But for many folk, myself included, The Lemon Drop Kid is a 10/10 film, particularly at the Crimble season.