Main Cast: Bob Hope, Marilyn Maxwell, Lloyd Nolan, Jane Darwell, Andrea King, Fred Clark
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 91 minutes
Plot
Damon Runyon's Broadway fable The Lemon Drop Kid was filmed twice by Paramount Pictures, but only the 1934 version with Lee Tracy paid more than lip service to the original Runyon story. The second version, filmed in 1951, was completely retooled to accommodate the talents of Bob Hope. Known far and wide as the Lemon Drop Kid because of his fondness for that particular round, yellow confection, Hope is a bookie who finds himself deeply in debt to Florida gangster Fred Clark. Magnanimously, Clark permits Hope to head to New York to raise the money--but he'd better have the dough ready by Christmas, or else. Ever on the lookout for Number One, Hope decides to exploit the Christmas spirit in order to get the money together. With the help of unsuspecting nightclub-singer Marilyn Maxwell, Hope sets up a charity fund to raise money for an "Old Doll's Home"--that is, a home for down-and-out little old ladies. He claims to be doing this on behalf of big-hearted Jane Darwell, but he has every intention of double-crossing Darwell and all the other elderly women by skipping town with the charity funds and leaving them at the mercy of the authorities. By the time Hope has seen the error of his ways and tries to do right by the old dolls, Maxwell's boss Lloyd Nolan has decided to muscle into the racket by using the ladies' home as a front for a gambling casino. To set things right, Hope finds it necessary to disguise himself as a fussy old spinster at one point. The best line in the film goes to William Frawley, playing one of many Broadway toughs who are being pressed into service as street-corner Santas. "Will you bring me a doll for Christmas?" asks a little girl. "Naw, my doll's workin' Christmas Eve" is Frawley's salty reply. The Lemon Drop Kid is the film in which Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell introduced the enduring Yuletide ballad "Silver Bells", written (reportedly in a real hurry) by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Although often understandably classified as a "holiday movie," The Lemon Drop Kid is actually an enjoyable little flick for any time of the year. Mixing with Bob Hope with Damon Runyan is a tricky combination, but it works well here. Certainly, in some ways Hope is a good fit for Runyan, as he's both appealing and underhanded, with a layer of selfishness, cowardice and egotism on top of the goodness beneath. But Hope's rapid-fire joke style is not a natural fit with the characteristic Runyan dialogue style. The two aren't totally reconciled in Kid, but the friction they sometimes create actually works to the film's advantage, painting Hope as something of an outsider -- a take that's not inaccurate when discussing the character's inner life. It also helps that the writers have supplied Hope with some good gags this time, and he delivers them in very fine form. Having lovely Marilyn Maxwell and dependable comics Fred Clark and William Frawley along is also a bonus, as are Lloyd Nolan and Jane Darwell. And then there's the immortal "Silver Bells," a timeless paean to big city Christmases, which certainly adds to the fun -- especially in Frawley's amusing take on it. While not one of Hope's absolutely best pictures, Kid is still very good entertainment. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
The Lemon Drop Kid is a 1951 comedy film based on the short story by writer Damon Runyon. The black-and-white movie stars Bob Hope. The Christmas song "Silver Bells," sung by Hope and Marilyn Maxwell, was introduced in the film. The film was directed by Sidney Lanfield and Frank Tashlin (uncredited — Tashlin was hired to finish the film). The story was also made as a movie in 1934 starring Lee Tracy, with a bit part for actress Ann Sheridan.
Plot
The Lemon Drop Kid (Bob Hope), a New York City swindler, is plying his trade at a Florida racetrack. After several successful hustles, the Kid comes across a beautiful, but gullible, woman intending to bet a lot of money. The Kid convinces her to switch her bet from the favorite. Unfortunately for the Kid, the woman "belongs" to notorious gangster Moose Moran (Fred Clark), as does the money. The Kid's choice finishes dead last and a furious Moran demands the Kid provide him with $10,000 (the amount he stood to win) by Christmas Eve, or the Kid "won't make it to New Year's."
The Kid decides to return to New York to try to come up with the money. He first tries his on-again, off-again girlfriend Brainy Baxter (Marilyn Maxwell). However, when talk of long-term commitment arises, the Kid quickly makes an escape. He next visits local hoodlum "Oxford" Charlie (Lloyd Nolan), with whom he has had past dealings. This falls through as Charlie is in serious tax trouble and does not particularly care for the Kid anyway. As he leaves Charlie's establishment and is about to give up hope, the Kid notices a cornerside Santa Claus and his kettle.
Thinking quickly, the Kid fashions himself a Santa suit and begins collecting donations. This fails as he is recognized by a passing policeman, who remembers his previous underhanded activity well. The Kid lands in court, where he is convicted for panhandling and sentenced to ten days in jail (as he cannot pay his fine). However, while in court, the Kid learns where his scheme went wrong. After a short stay, Brainy arrives to bail him out. He then sets about restarting his Santa operation, this time with legitimate backing. To this end, he needs a charity to represent and a city license. The kid receives key inspiration when he remembers that Nellie Thursday (Jane Darwell), a kindly neighborhood resident, has been denied entry to a retirement home because of her jailed husband's criminal past as a safecracker.
Organizing other small-time New York swindlers and Brainy, who is both surprised and charmed at the Kid's apparent goodwill, the Kid converts an abandoned casino (ironically belonging to Moose Moran) into the "Nellie Thursday Home For Old Dolls". A small group of elderly women and makeshift amenities complete the project. The Kid is able to receive the all-important city license. Now free to collect, the Kid and his compatriots dress as Santa Claus and position themselves throughout Manhattan. The others are unaware that the Kid plans to keep the money for himself to pay off Moran. The scheme is a huge success, netting $2,000 in only a few days. An overjoyed Brainy decides to leave her job as a dancer and look after the "home" full-time until after Christmas. Coincidentally, her employer is none other than "Oxford" Charlie, whom Brainy cheerfully informs of the effort.
Seeing a potential gold mine, Charlie decides to muscle in on the operation. Reasoning that the Nellie Thursday home is "wherever Nellie Thursday is", Charlie and his crew kidnap the home's inhabitants (including Nellie and Brainy) and move them to Charlie's mansion in Nyack. The Kid learns of this when he returns to the home after a late night to find the home deserted and money (which he had hidden in a hollowed-out statue) gone. Clued in by oversized Oxford footprints in the snow, the Kid and his friends pay Charlie a visit. Here, Charlie reveals the true nature of the Kid's scheme through a phone conversation with Moose Moran. The Kid's accomplices are angry and move to confront him, but the Kid manages to slip away. However, Brainy tracks him down outside and voices her disgust at his actions.
After a few days of stewing in self-pity (and realizing it is Christmas Eve), the Kid is surprised to meet Nellie, who has escaped Charlie's compound. He decides to recover the money, sneaking into Charlie's home in the guise of an elderly woman. He finds that Charlie and his crew are again moving the women, this time to a more secure location. Using the heightened activity to his advantage, the Kid enters Charlie's office and confronts him. After a brief struggle, the Kid overpowers Charlie and makes off with the money, narrowly avoiding the thugs Charlie has sent after him. The ensuing chaos allows Brainy and the others to safely escape.
Later that night, the Kid returns to the original Nellie Thursday home to meet with Moose Moran (who has returned home for the holidays). The deal appears to be in jeopardy as Moran arrives with Charlie. Charlie demands that the Kid reimburse him, which would leave too little for Moran. However, the Kid turns the tables by hitting a switch, revealing hidden casino tables. All are occupied, mainly by the escaped old dolls. The Kid and his still-loyal friends hold off the gangsters as the police initiate a raid. Moran and Charlie are arrested while the judge who sentenced the Kid earlier warns that he will be "keeping an eye on him". The Kid assures him that will not be necessary and his attention will lie on the home, which is going to become a reality. The night's main event begins as Nellie's husband Henry, free on parole, joyously reunites with his wife.
