The Lemon Drop Kid

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The Lemon Drop Kid
movie poster
Directed by	Sidney Lanfield
Produced by	Robert L. Welch
Written by	Damon Runyon (story) Edmund Beloin (story)
Starring	Bob Hope Marilyn Maxwell
Distributed by	Paramount Pictures
Release date(s)	March 8, 1951 U.S. release
Running time	91 min
Language	English
IMDb profile

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.

[edit] 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 slow-witted, 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 and 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 arrested 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 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. Unbeknowst to the others, the Kid intends to use the proceeds to pay off Moran. The plan 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.