ComedyMusicRomance

The Lemon Drop Kid

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

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.

Release Date : 1951-04-02

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hope Enterprises

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)

Original Name : Bob Hope

Gender : Male

Character Name : 'Brainey' Baxter

Original Name : Marilyn Maxwell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Oxford Charley

Original Name : Lloyd Nolan

Gender : Male

Character Name : 'Nellie Thursday' Regan

Original Name : Jane Darwell

Gender : Female

Character Name : Stella

Original Name : Andrea King

Gender : Female

Character Name : Moose Moran

Original Name : Fred Clark

Gender : Male

Character Name : Straight Flush Tony

Original Name : Jay C. Flippen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gloomy Willie

Original Name : William Frawley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam the Surgeon

Original Name : Harry Bellaver

Gender : Male

Character Name : Little Louie

Original Name : Sid Melton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Singing Solly

Original Name : Ben Welden

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Feeney - The Bird Lady

Original Name : Ida Moore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Henry Regan

Original Name : Francis Pierlot

Gender : Male

Character Name : Goomba

Original Name : Charles Cooley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Street-corner Santa Claus

Original Name : Salvatore De Lorenzo

Gender : Male

Character Name : John (Policeman)

Original Name : Harry Shannon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Honest Harry

Original Name : Bernard Szold

Gender : Male

Character Name : Super Swedish Angel (Wrestler)

Original Name : Tor Johnson

Gender : Male

Character Name : No Thumbs Charlie

Original Name : Tom Dugan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge Wilkinson (uncredited)

Original Name : Stanley Andrews

Gender : Male

Character Name : Racetrack Bettor on Iron Bar (uncredited)

Original Name : Billie Bird

Gender : Female

Character Name : Racetrack Bettor on Iron Bar (uncredited)

Original Name : Oliver Blake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Muscleman (uncredited)

Original Name : John Doucette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Police Captain Swain (uncredited)

Original Name : Pat Flaherty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dancer (uncredited)

Original Name : Charmienne Harker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Muscleman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Kruschen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Holly Seller (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Moder

Gender : Female

Character Name : Girl (uncredited)

Original Name : Mary Murphy

Gender : Female

Character Name : Clerk (uncredited)

Original Name : Bruce Riley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thoughtful Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Anthony Warde

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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.