Rating: 
Summary: Bob Hope Christmas Classic That Launched "Silver Bells"
Review: "The Lemon Drop Kid", never springs to mind when Christmas themed movies are discussed but for a slightly different turn on the festive season and what it does to people this film deserves to be better known. It certainly contains much to enjoy from the legendary Bob Hope as a bogus Santa Claus who sees the error of his ways to a beautiful and talented leading lady in Marilyn Maxwell, an actress who also deserves to be better remembered than she is. Apart from its very amusing storyline involving con artists, fake charities operated by fake Santas, and a hoard of little old ladies all wrapped up in Christmas season "The Lemon Drop Kid", has the distinction of marking the debut of the now classic Ray Evans/Jay Livingstone Carol "Silver Bells". This great song has been a Yuletide favourite ever since and became forever associated with Bob Hope and his Christmas specials for decades after.
Based on a story by Damon Runyon, "The Lemon Drop Kid", stars Bob Hope as Sidney Melbourne but known to all as the Lemon Drop Kid because of his fondness for that particular candy. He is a small time con artist who works the race tracks skimming money off unsuspecting dopes who know nothing about horses. When he unknowingly offers a rotten bet to local gangster Moose Moran (Fred Clark), which costs him $10,000 the kid finds himself having to repay the debt by Christmas Eve or as Moose so delicately puts it "he will find himself at the bottom of the river in a cement Santa Claus Suit". The kid goes to a freezing cold New York trying to find the money and comes up with a wild scheme to make money by setting up a "charity", based around local homeless identity Nellie Thursday (Jane Darwell)with the money for a home for "old Dolls". The Kid drags girlfriend Brainy Baxter (Marilyn Maxwell), into the scheme which she believes is an honourable new chapter in the Kid's supposed reformation from life as a con artist not knowing he intends to skip with the collected money on Chrsutmas Eve to pay back Moose. Setting up the bogus retirement home in one of Moose's disused casinos the kid falls foul of local gangster Oxford Charley (Llyod Nolan), who takes over operation of the "home", and the money already collected. Realising Christmas Eve is coming the Kid tries desperate measures to retrieve the money even down to dressing like a little old lady to join the "home", and then trying to get the money out of Oxford Charlie's clutches. Of course being Christmas Eve the Kid has a change of heart in regards to most of what he has been doing and not only does he help get the two crime leaders put away and the money put into keeping the old folks home open, but he also gets his girl Brainy back and filled with the proper Christmas spirit he agrees finally to marry her bringing the story to a happy conclusion.
Somehow even when he is playing a con man Bob Hope had a way of still being likeable. I believe he has never been better than in this very funny role which played another way may have come across as an extremely unlikeable character. Playing a weak willed schemer on the run from gangsters and fearing for his life was a role tailor made for Hope. The quips come fast and furious from his hilarious remark to the losing horse to "take a couple of extra carrots out of petty cash", through to his very funny remarks when dressed in drag describing his "knitting", to the other old ladies in the retirement home. Being a Bob Hope film of course there is the expected reference to Bing Crosby which always guarentees a laugh as film fantasy and reality cross each other. Bob Hope's chemistry with Marilyn Maxwell works wonderfully here and the two make a great duo when either exchanging comic barbs or especially when singing the immortal "Silver Bells", for the first time on screen. The set of lovable local rogues that the kid recruits to collect money for the bogus charity also raises some great laughs with their crooked looking faces under Santa's white beard and is headed by comic legend William Frawley who of course won everlasting fame as Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy". Academy Award winning actress Jane Darwell also does very well in her part of Nellie Thursday who becomes the centre of the kids wild money making scheme. She displays just the right elements of street smartness with touches of vulnerability to deliver a terrific performance and some of her work with Bob Hope in particular at the sentimental conclusion really helps fill the screen with Christmas spirit.
Seldom seen during the Holiday period nowadays "The Lemon Drop Kid", deserves to be better remembered and certainly contains some of Bob Hope's more enjoyable later film comedy work. I have included it now for a number of years in my Christmas viewing and its slightly cynical view of alot of human nature which neverthless is reformed before the fadeout offers a different turn than most contemporary holiday movies. Bob Hope and Christmas even nowadays still go hand in hand in by belief and his rendition of the classic "Silver Bells", is sure to melt your heart as it still does mine even after repeated screenings. A great viewing experience is guarenteed when Hope plays the ever unsuccessful con man out to fleece the "goodwill to all men", belief held sacred at Christmas but who thankfully sees the error of his ways just in time for Christmas. Highly recommended festive viewing which you need to catch some time this season.
Rating: 
Summary: "A must see at Christmas"
Review: "The Lemon Drop Kid", is one of a half dozen movies I watch every year at christmas! I never tire of the old movies, nothing can ever replace the innocence, humor, or charm that these movies have. Bob Hope is one of many actors that will leave you laughing, crying, and touch your heart in a way you'll never forget! If you have'nt seen it you don't know what you're missing. The classics are meant to be saved, and shared with our children; so they will know the wonderful movies we grew up with!!!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT HOPE VEHICLE
Review: A remake of the excellent ... 1934 version with Lee Tracy, Minna Gombell, Helen Mack and Henry B. Walthall. Hope is a racetrack bookie who gets in trouble with big-time gangster; he tips Nolan on a sure thing and the gangsters puts down a large sum of money and loses-he wants the money back or Hope's head! Bob works well as a fast talking bookie and the comic situations he's thrown in are hilarious........... The Lemon Drop Kid mistakenly gives a gangster's moll a bad tip on a dog costing her 10 grand..........His only hope? A phoney Santa Claus scam - shame on him! The always fun Bill (Fred Mertz) Frawley is here playing Gloomy Willie - he was in the original (excellent) 1934 version as well! The London born Bob Hope, 98 and still living at this writing was an incredibly youthful 48 here; the female lead was the lovely Marilyn Maxwell; the Christmas standard SILVER BELLS was introduced in this one.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOPE MOVIES
Review: An this is also overlooked as a Christmas movie. Hope plays the Lemon Drop Kid. A race horse tout in Florida who unknowingly gives the wrong tip to gangster Moose Moran and costs him $10,000. Moose give him until Christmas to come up with the money or else.Kid goes to New York to see his girl played ny Marilyn Maxwell and to cook up a scheme to collect money for a bogus home for old ladies to pay off his debt. he enlists local crooks and con men to dress up as Santas and collect money on steet corners for the phony charity. Hope is at his best as the fast-talking and wise cracking Lemon Drop Kid. The movie is notable for Hope and Maxwell's singing Silver Bells, which would become a staple of Hopes annual Christmas specials. Look for William Frawley of I Love Lucy as one of Hopes con man friends. Funny movie!
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF MY FAVORITE HOPE MOVIES
Review: An this is also overlooked as a Christmas movie. Hope plays the Lemon Drop Kid. A race horse tout in Florida who unknowingly gives the wrong tip to gangster Moose Moran and costs him $10,000. Moose give him until Christmas to come up with the money or else. Kid goes to New York to see his girl played ny Marilyn Maxwell and to cook up a scheme to collect money for a bogus home for old ladies to pay off his debt. he enlists local crooks and con men to dress up as Santas and collect money on steet corners for the phony charity. Hope is at his best as the fast-talking and wise cracking Lemon Drop Kid. The movie is notable for Hope and Maxwell's singing Silver Bells, which would become a staple of Hopes annual Christmas specials. Look for William Frawley of I Love Lucy as one of Hopes con man friends. Funny movie!
Rating:
Summary: Hope at his best
Review: As Mighty Mouse's heroine, Pearl Pureheart, once remarked in the face of Oilcan Harry's buzzsaw, "I'll never give up hope...he's my favorite comedian." Thank God we don't have to give up hope, either...Bob Hope, that is, as we have this American icon forever preserved on video and DVD. And "The Lemon Drop Kid" is pure Hope at the top of his comedic game, surrounded by a five-star cast including Jane Darwell, Fred Clark and William Frawley (who later gained his own icon status as Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy"). Adding to its luster, Hope introduced the Christmas classic, "Silver Bells", in the film. Buy it and enjoy it, because you'll treasure this cinematic gem over and over, especially during the Holidays!
Rating:
Summary: "Kid" avoids pitfalls, delivers rare holiday gem
Review: Bob Hope's movies generally make me squirm with their heavy-handed comedy schtick, even "classics" -- those Hope-Crosby road movies -- don't live up to their reputations. And then, of course, there's the Hope plus Phyllis Diller equals pain movies of the 60's... BUT... This movie is a gem. Its puns still work, it features a deep cast of character actors that fill small moments, and surprisingly, gives Hope a role that even his hamming doesn't get the best of. Definitely a perennial holiday favorite for me (as a kid I watched this every year between the gazillion forgettable Christmas Carol remakes). Usually I cringe during the inevitable musical numbers in the movies of this period (made in 1950, released in 51), but the two numbers here are not forced, nor prolonged, and -- geez -- fun? Yeah, fun. I'm an avowed musical hater, to give you some perspective. There might be a few moments that are pure camp, but if you're looking for a funny movie that's got sentimental elements that aren't saccharine, your kids will enjoy, and is worthy of a viewing or two or three, look no further.
Rating:
Summary: "Kid" avoids pitfalls, delivers rare holiday gem
Review: Bob Hope's movies generally make me squirm with their heavy-handed comedy schtick, even "classics" -- those Hope-Crosby road movies -- don't live up to their reputations. And then, of course, there's the Hope plus Phyllis Diller equals pain movies of the 60's... BUT... This movie is a gem. Its puns still work, it features a deep cast of character actors that fill small moments, and surprisingly, gives Hope a role that even his hamming doesn't get the best of. Definitely a perennial holiday favorite for me (as a kid I watched this every year between the gazillion forgettable Christmas Carol remakes). Usually I cringe during the inevitable musical numbers in the movies of this period (made in 1950, released in 51), but the two numbers here are not forced, nor prolonged, and -- geez -- fun? Yeah, fun. I'm an avowed musical hater, to give you some perspective. There might be a few moments that are pure camp, but if you're looking for a funny movie that's got sentimental elements that aren't saccharine, your kids will enjoy, and is worthy of a viewing or two or three, look no further.
Rating: 
Summary: DVD a big disappointment...
Review: First of all, let me start by saying that I love this film. A true classic: very funny, great songs and wonderful characters. But the DVD looks terrible. Scratches, and even awkward skips in the transfer. Picture is often blurry and sound is muffled. I wish I could say that they had restored it, but it looks more like a bootleg transfer than a legitimate release. The old, out-of-print VHS version had a much better film transfer on it. At least that one didn't frame-skip in the middle of the dialogue like this DVD transfer does! Maybe someday this film will get the DVD treatment it so richly deserves. Oh, by the way--for those who care, there are NO extras to speak of on it.
Rating:
Summary: DVD a big disappointment...
Review: First of all, let me start by saying that I love this film. A true classic: very funny, great songs and wonderful characters. But the DVD looks terrible. Scratches, and even awkward skips in the transfer. Picture is often blurry and sound is muffled. I wish I could say that they had restored it, but it looks more like a bootleg transfer than a legitimate release. The old, out-of-print VHS version had a much better film transfer on it. At least that one didn't frame-skip in the middle of the dialogue like this DVD transfer does! Maybe someday this film will get the DVD treatment it so richly deserves. Oh, by the way--for those who care, there are NO extras to speak of on it.
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