The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)

72% of users liked it
(1,290 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Sidney Lanfield
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Nov 21, 2000

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Another awful Bob Hope comedy. It goes down as sour as a lemon drop.
Glenn Heath Jr., Slant Magazine
The Lemon Drop Kid might not be a classic screwball comedy, but it remains a joyous and rambunctious series of mad-hatter schemes that occasionally transcends its childish roots.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Terrific Bob Hope Christmas picture. One of his best.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Mark E

Must watch at Xmas comedy
Anthony V

Nice Bob Hope humor.

Cast

            Bob Hope as Lemon Drop Kid Sidney Melbourne

            Marilyn Maxwell as Brainey Baxter

            Lloyd Nolan as Charlie

            Jane Darwell as Nellie Thursday

            Andrea King as Stella

            Fred Clark as Moose Moran

            Jay C. Flippen as Straight Flush

            William Frawley as Gloomy Willie

            Harry Bellaver as Sam the Surgeon

            Sid Melton as Little Louie

            Ida Moore as Bird Lady

            Francis Pierlot as Henry Regan

            Charles Cooley as Goomba

            Society Kid Hogan as Himself

            Harry Shannon as Policeman John

            Bernard Szold as Honest Harry

            Tor Johnson as Wrestler

            Tom Dugan as No Thumbs Charlie

            Stanley Andrews as Judge

            Helen Brown as Ellen

            Ray Cooke as Willie

            John Doucette as Muscleman

            Roy Gordon as Judge

            Fred Graff as Pimlico Pete

            Tommy Ivo as Boy Scout

            Richard Karlan as Maxie

            Jack Kruschen as Muscleman

            Mary Murphy as Girl

            Almira Sessions as Mrs. Santoro

            Douglas Spencer as Thin Santa Claus

            Sid Tomack as Groom

            Harry Tyler as Santa Claus

            Ben Welden as Singin' Solly

            Fred Zendar as South Street Benny

            Slim Gaut as Professor Murdock
See full cast