Released – April, 1951 

Directed By - Sidney Lanfield

Starring – Bob Hope (Sidney Melbourne, The Lemon Drop Kid), Marilyn Maxwell (‘Brainy’ Baxter), Lloyd Nolan (Oxford Charley), Jane Darwell (Nellie Thursday).

Description – The Lemon Drop Kid has a problem; he owes big money to gangsters and must pay or else. Adapted from the Damon Runyon story, Bob Hope is teriffic as the incompetent bookie faced with this dilemma after convincing a woman to change a bet. Little did he know the woman ‘belonged’ to gangster Moose Moran.

The ‘Kid’ will try anything; romancing an old sweetheart, trying an old hoodlum who he has dealt with before, even playing Santa Claus on a street corner holding a kettle during the holidays.

A cast of colorful characters add to the enjoyment of this out of the ordinary holiday film.

NOTABLE: The Christmas song classic Silver Bells was introduced in this picture.

The Lemon Drop Kid

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store

Released – September, 1941 

Directed By - Sidney Lanfield

Starring – Fred Astaire (Robert Curtis), Rita Hayworth (Sheila Winthrop), Robert Benchley (Martin Cortlind).

Description – A musical comedy with a war time theme has stage star Robert Curtis finding himself drafted into the military just before his big show is to premiere. Not giving up, show producer Martin Cortlind bring the show to boot camp.

While trying to get his production completed, Cortilind’s wife discovers a diamond bracelet and thinks her husband is interested in beartiful showgirl Sheila Winthrop. In the mixup of events, Curtis finds himself right in the middle, trying to serve his country and romance the beautiful showgirl himself.

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

NOTABLE: This motion picture was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Music, Original Song, and Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.

This was Rita Hayworth’s first big-budet starring role for Columbia Pictures.

Tremendously successful at the box office, this film was a needed shot-in-the-arm for Fred Astaire who felt his career was suffering since breaking off with Ginger Rogers.

Personal Comment: While not one of the strongest musicals of the era, I’m such a fan of Fred Astaire that I believe just about anything that has him on the dance floor is worth viewing. Especially with the beautiful, graceful, and sensual Rita Hayworth as his dance partner.

You’ll Never Get Rich

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store