The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Bob Hope is Sidney Milburn, "The Lemon Drop Kid" in this film based on a Damon Runyon story. Hope plays a racetrack "tout" who talks up horses to eager bettors. In the first scene we see him conversing with a neighing horse and taking notes. He tells one bettor that most of the horses are sick: "That's why they head for the inside rail so they have something to lean on." Unfortunately, he talks mobster Moose Moran's (Fred Clark) girlfriend out of betting on the horse Moose sent her to bet on, and the horse, Lightning Streak, comes in last. Sidney then owes Moose $10,000 and is in big trouble. He goes to New York and looks up some old friends. One is Nellie (Jane Darwell) whose husband Henry is about to be released from prison, but she is about to be evicted; and the other is Brainey (Marilyn Maxwell). Sidney moves Nellie and some other elderly ladies (or old dolls, as they're called) into Moose's casino which is sitting empty on Long Island, gets a vendors license, and sends his friends dressed as Santa out to collect money for "The Nellie Thursday Old Dolls Home." Trouble follows.Hope is surrounded by some fine character actors: Jay C. Flippen, Sid Melton, William Frawley, and Lloyd Nolan.Marilyn Maxwell sings "Silver Bells," which became a big hit. She toured with Hope entertaining the USO and was apparently having a huge affair with him.There's a lot of slapstick at the end, which is very funny, as Hope goes on the run dressed as an old woman. There are some great lines as well throughout, in part thanks to Hope's flawless delivery. Despite not playing a savory character, he comes off as one of the most likable crooks you'll ever meet.Fun, and a nice film to see at holiday time.

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.

********************Mild Spoilers Ahead********************************This is a sassy comedy for Bob Hope who is a two timing con artist that somehow is likable. Bob Hope manages to pull it all together and hold the weak plot together for a few laughs. He's the whole show in this one.The Lemon Drop Kid (Bob Hope) double crosses the wrong guy in this movie and he has to run for his life. It becomes apparent that the Lemon Drop Kid would sell out his mother to save his own neck. He even cooks up a scam to get money by dressing up as Santa Claus and ringing a bell at Christmas time. Then he enlists a bunch of cronies to work for him in the Santa Claus bell ringer scam and cheats a bunch of old ladies out of their money. What a heel!It's a fairly good movie and it does move along nicely, but some of the top billed actors are too corny in their roles for my tastes, namely Marilyn Maxwell, Jane Darwell and William Frawley. They just aren't pulling it off in this one like Bob does. Even Bob goes over the top at times which causes the move to fall sporadically flat . I thought the bit with Bob Hope and the mechanical mannequin in the store window was different and unusual. Bob walking in the wind and cold and stealing the dog's knitted sweater was also memorable. He also made me laugh when he dressed up as an old lady to sneak into the Home for Old Dolls(women).This one is kind of fun, but it's no classic. My Favorite Brunette and The Son of Paleface are the two comedies of Bob's that I would recommend before this one. Worth watching, though, if you are a big fan of Bob Hopes and just want to see something with him in it. I suggest you stay away from The Road To Bali which is the worst Bob Hope Comedy I've seen so far...but I haven't all of them. I give The Lemon Drop Kid 75/100. It's average comedy with some sparks of hilarity thrown in here and there.

Our entire family from great grandmother on down to the great grandchildren love this movie. It will never be outdated. It is funny, decent and there is never a dull moment. This movie is truly a classic and such a refreshing change from the liberal nonsense that the industry is spewing out today.