I think this gem of a movie is sorely underrated. It's one of my favorite Christmas movies. It would be nice if it got some more mainstream attention.
"What filthy work!" "Could be worse..." "How?" "Could be raining." [rain pours down]
I watch every year.
Waffles Anyone
rstory-3
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Its playing on the TMC tonite and every year.
Fix the error reports on this site
Movie girl: I think this is a great Christmas film too! I watch it every year. When I was a kid I first saw it on TV with my big sister. At first we did not think it would be good, as it involved a race track. But since Bob Hope was starring in the film and some others we liked and recognized, William Frawley and Lloyd Nolan, we decided to give it a try.
What a delight! What not to love - if you weren't the Lemon Drop Kid in trouble, of course. Marilyn Maxwell was lovely as Sidney (Bob's) girlfriend and fiancee. She dances in a nightclub Oxford Charlie (one of the Kid's old gangster pals) runs. Bob could not tell her he was in trouble over a race track debt, as he had promised not to gamble anymore. He would get a job! But Bob (The Lemon Drop Kid), could not resist gambling at the race track once more., He had inadvertently given a bad tip to a gangster at a racetrack in Florida and was forced to flee. IF he did not come up with the $10 grand by Christmas Eve, he would be in serious trouble! Where to turn? Both Moose Moran and Oxford Charlie were after him! Two weeks before Christmas he showed up on Broadway and met with his old "gangster" friends to raise the money he needed. He soon got William Frawley and his other pals collecting money as sidewalk Santas for charity; "his charity" .All of those friends trying to help him. Most hillarious was a man coming out of the bank with lots of money bulging from his pockets. He carefully took out $10 and put it in the "Salvation Army" collection. His wallet drops in the snow and of course "Santa" tries to put it back in his pocket; the businessman type appeared to be a little drunk and did not see the money he stuffed into his own pocket--lots of it. The collection went on. However, the idea did not last, as it is not legal to canvas for money without a license.
Jane Darwell is a delight as always as Bob's old friend, Nellie Thursday, who has lost her home when her safe-cracking hubby went to jail earlier. And then Bob has an idea - open an Old Dolls Home just for older ladies! Of course. He would be helping Nellie and got his license by using a "deserted" gambling casino. Nellie comes and brings all of her friends. OF course he uses Moose's gambling casino. Now it is legal to collect money. All goes well until Moose and Oxford Charlie his henchman discover the ruse. Bob is now on the run from the gangsters and the police. Funniest of all, was Bob hiding from police in a department store window decorated for Christmas. He dons the clothing of an old lady in black cloak and skirt and moves with precision as a man hands a Christmas package to him - back and forth, back and forth. The straight faced cop passes by and takes a casual look at the window, but soon all the onlookers are laughing as Bob (the motorized man) unwittingly snatches all the clothing from the lady mannequin and appears to be "making a pass". The cop runs in the store and of course he is off like lightning! Our sons and daughter love this movie too!
I cannot agree more!! One of his funniest movies EVER.
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