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Hollywood’s Finest Christmas Musical Number: Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell sing “Silver Bells”

December 19th, 2007 by Scott Marks



Nobody talks about The Lemon Drop Kid at Christmas and they should because there isn’t a better holiday musical number than “Silver Bells.” It was one of the first live-action films that Frank Tashlin had a hand in directing, albeit uncredited. Sidney Lanfield received the billing, but it was Tash who directed the majority of the film.

2oth Century Fox was not happy with Lanfield’s dalies so they brought in Tashlin to direct approimately a third of the picture, including the Silver Bells number. The production design, by Franz Bachelin and Hal Pereira, is a triumph. What a set - a stunning backlot Paramount mock-up of bustling New York City sidewalks crammed with last minute Christmas shoppers. And as much as I hate the real stuff, there is nothing more magical that watching it snow in 35mm. Through it all stroll Bob and Marilyn (and Daniel Fapp’s camera) creating what would amount to song #2, behind Thanks for the Memories, as the tune most often associated with Old Ski Nose.

I’ll have more to say about The Lemon Drop Kid on Christmas Day. Until then, enjoy this glorious piece of holiday movie magic.

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