The Lemon Drop Kid (1934 Film)
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''The Lemon Drop Kid'' is a 1934 American
comedy drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...
film directed by
Marshall Neilan Marshall Ambrose "Mickey" Neilan (April 11, 1891 – October 27, 1958; also credited Marshall Neilon) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, whose work in films began in the early Silent film, silent era. Early life Born ...
and written by Howard J. Green, J.P. McEvoy and
Damon Runyon Alfred Damon Runyon (October 4, 1880 – December 10, 1946) was an American journalist and short-story writer. He was best known for his short stories celebrating the world of Broadway theatre, Broadway in New York City that grew out of the Proh ...
. The film stars Lee Tracy, Helen Mack, William Frawley,
Minna Gombell Minna Marie Gombell (''née'' Gombel; May 28, 1892 – April 14, 1973) was an American stage and film actress. Early years She was born Minna Marie Gombel in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of William and Emma M. Debring Gombel. Her father was ...
, Baby LeRoy, Kitty Kelly and Henry B. Walthall. It was released on September 28, 1934, by
Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...
.


Plot

Con artist and racetrack tout Wally Brooks hands a lemon drop to a man in a wheelchair, promising that it will cure whatever ails him, and then persuades the man, a millionaire named Griggsby, to bet $100 on a horse. Wally knows that the horse cannot win and intends to pocket the stake. However, when the horse does win, Wally and his partner Dunhill, known as "The Professor", flee before Griggsby can find them and collect his winnings. Hiding at an obscure location, Wally meets town drunk Jonas Deering and his beautiful daughter Alice. A love affair blossoms and Wally marries Alice. When she is about to give birth and has serious medical problems, Wally needs money, so he robs Mr. Potter, her boss. Alice dies in childbirth. A despondent Wally shuns his own son, Wally Jr., and is not sure where to turn next. The Professor marries longtime girlfriend Maizie and offers to raise Wally Jr. Griggsby appears, claiming that the lemon drop did help his arthritis. He volunteers to become Wally Jr.'s legal guardian and gives Wally some money, with the amount that he would have won on the horse deducted.


Cast

* Lee Tracy as Wally Brooks * Helen Mack as Alice Deering * William Frawley as William Dunhill *
Minna Gombell Minna Marie Gombell (''née'' Gombel; May 28, 1892 – April 14, 1973) was an American stage and film actress. Early years She was born Minna Marie Gombel in Baltimore, Maryland, the daughter of William and Emma M. Debring Gombel. Her father was ...
as Maizie * Baby LeRoy as Wally Jr. * Kitty Kelly as Cora Jennings * Henry B. Walthall as Jonas Deering *
Robert McWade Robert McWade (January 25, 1872 – January 19, 1938), was an American stage and film actor. Biography McWade was born in Buffalo, New York. He was the third actor named Robert McWade, after his father and grandfather. In 1902, McWade debut ...
as Mr. Griggsby * Clarence Wilson as Martin Potter * Charles C. Wilson as Warden * Eddie Peabody as Banjo Player *
Edward LeSaint Edward LeSaint (January 1, 1871 – September 10, 1940) was an American stage and film actor and Film director, director whose career began in the silent film, silent era. He acted in over 300 films and directed more than 90. He was sometimes ...
as Doctor *
Dell Henderson George Adelbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, film director, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific film career in the early days of silent film. Biography Born in the southwest ...
as Judge Forrest


Reception

In a contemporary review for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'', critic Frank S. Nugent called ''The Lemon Drop Kid'' "no Man o' War" and wrote: "It breaks its stride trying to go the full feature distance and its pedigree is open to suspicion. But the spectator who follows its course down the projection room is reasonably sure of enjoying a few good chuckles and finding himself watching the goat with interest most of the way. ... As is true of all Runyon yarns, the plot is not as important as its characters and the picture adds a few new portraits to the Runyon film album."


References


External links

* 1934 films 1930s crime comedy films American black-and-white films American crime comedy films 1930s English-language films Films about con artists Films based on American short stories Films directed by Marshall Neilan Paramount Pictures films 1934 comedy films 1930s American films Films based on works by Damon Runyon English-language crime comedy films {{1930s-comedy-film-stub