Silver Bells (Song)

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“Silver Bells” is a Christmas song composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

The song is started by William Frawley,

and then sung in the generally known version immediately thereafter by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in the motion picture The Lemon Drop Kid, which was filmed in July and August 1950 and released in March 1951.

The first recorded version was sung by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards on September 8, 1950, with John Scott Trotter and His Orchestra and the Lee Gordon Singers.

The recording was released by Decca Records in October 1950. After the Crosby/Richards recording became popular, Hope and Maxwell were called back in late 1950 to reshoot a more elaborate production of the song.

History

“Silver Bells” started out as “Tinkle Bells”. Songwriter Ray Evans said: “We never thought that tinkle had a double meaning until Jay went home and his first wife said, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?'”.

This song’s inspiration is the source of conflicting reports. Several periodicals and interviews cite writer Jay Livingston stating that the song’s inspiration came from the bells used by sidewalk Santa Clauses and Salvation Army solicitors on New York City street corners. However, in an interview with NPR, co-writer Ray Evans said that the song was inspired by a bell that sat on an office desk that he shared with Livingston.

Kate Smith‘s 1966 version of “Silver Bells” became popular and has since been featured prominently in film and on holiday albums.

The song was recorded by American country duo the Judds and was released as a single in 1987, charting for one week in 1998 at No. 68 on the Hot Country Songs chart.

In 2009 the song charted in the United Kingdom for the first time when a duet by Terry Wogan and Aled Jones that had been recorded for charity reached the Top 40, peaking at No. 27.

• Silver Bells Instrumental

• Silver bells by Walt Disney Cartoons

• Dean Martin – Silver Bells

• George Jones and Tammy Wynette – Silver Bells

Kenny G – Silver Bells

Martina McBride – Silver Bells

• Elvis Presley – Silver Bells

• Andy Williams – Silver Bells

• Jim Reeves – Silver Bells

• Meaghan Smith – Silver Bells

• Michael Bublé – Silver Bells

• Brenda Lee – Silver Bells

• Stevie Wonder – Silver Bells

• Ray Conniff – Silver Bells

• Richard Clayderman – Silver Bells

• André Rieu – Silver Bells

• Living Strings – Silver Bells

• Anne Murray – Silver Bells

• Doris Day – Silver Bells

• Sarah McLachlan – Silver Bells

• Johnny Mathis – Silver Bells

• Percy Faith – Silver Bells

• Burl Ives – Silver Bells

• Andrea Bocelli – Silver Bells

• Rosemary Clooney – Silver Bells

The Lemon Drop Kid (Film)

The Lemon Drop Kid is a 1951 American comedy film based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. Although Sidney Lanfield is credited as the director, Frank Tashlin reportedly was hired, uncredited, to finish the film. The story had previously been adapted as a 1934 film starring Lee Tracy, with actress Ann Sheridan in a bit part. William Frawley is featured in both versions.

The song “Silver Bells,” sung by Hope and Maxwell, was introduced in this film.

Plot

The ‘Lemon Drop Kid’, a New York City swindler, is illegally touting horses at a Florida racetrack. The Kid touts across a beautiful woman intending to bet $2,000 on a horse named Iron Bar. Rigging a con, the Kid convinces her to switch her bet, but learns that she was betting for boyfriend and notorious gangster Moose Moran. When the horse finishes dead last, a furious Moran demands the Kid pay him $10,000 (the amount he would have won) by Christmas Eve, or the Kid “won’t make it to New Year’s.”

The Kid decides to return to New York to try to come up with the money. He first tries his on-again, off-again girlfriend Brainey Baxter. However, when talk of long-term commitment arises, the Kid quickly makes an escape. He next visits local crime boss Oxford Charlie, with whom he has had past dealings. However, Charlie is in serious tax trouble and does not particularly care for the Kid anyway. As he leaves Charlie’s establishment, the Kid notices a street corner Santa Claus and his kettle.

Thinking quickly, the Kid fashions himself a Santa suit and begins collecting donations. He is recognized by a passing policeman, and the Kid is convicted of panhandling and sentenced to ten days in jail when he cannot pay the fine. The Kid learns where his scheme went wrong. After Brainey bails him out, he sets about making his scam legitimate by finding a charity to represent and a city license. The Kid remembers that Nellie Thursday, a kindly neighborhood resident, has been denied entry to a retirement home because of her jailed husband’s criminal past.

Organizing other small-time New York swindlers and Brainey, who is both surprised and charmed at the Kid’s apparent goodwill, the Kid converts an abandoned casino (ironically belonging to Moose Moran) into the “Nellie Thursday Home For Old Dolls”. A small group of elderly women and makeshift amenities complete the project. The Kid receives the all-important city license. Now free to collect, the Kid and his compatriots dress up as Santa Claus and position themselves throughout Manhattan. The others are unaware that the Kid plans to keep the money for himself to pay off Moran. The scheme is a huge success, netting $2,000 in only a few days. An overjoyed Brainey decides to leave her job as a dancer and look after the “home” full-time until after Christmas. She informs her employer, Oxford Charlie.

Seeing a potential gold mine, Charlie decides to muscle in on the operation. Reasoning that the Nellie Thursday home is “wherever Nellie Thursday is”, Oxford Charlie and his crew kidnap the home’s inhabitants (including Nellie and Brainey) and move them to Charlie’s mansion in Nyack. The Kid returns to the home to find it deserted and the money he had hidden in a hollowed-out statue gone. Clued in by oversized Oxford footprints in the snow, the Kid and his friends pay Charlie a visit. When Charlie reveals the Kid’s scheme through a phone conversation with Moose Moran, the Kid’s accomplices become angry, but he manages to slip away. However, Brainey tracks him down and voices her disgust.

After a few days of stewing in self-pity (and realizing it is Christmas Eve), the Kid is surprised to meet Nellie, who has escaped. He decides to recover the money, sneaking into Charlie’s home in the guise of an elderly woman. He finds that Charlie and his crew are moving the women to a more secure location. The Kid confronts Charlie in his office. After a brief struggle, the Kid overpowers Charlie and makes off with the money, narrowly avoiding the thugs Charlie has sent after him. The ensuing chaos allows Brainey and the others to escape.

Later that night, the Kid returns to the original Nellie Thursday home to meet with Moose Moran. The deal appears to be in jeopardy as Moran arrives with Charlie. Charlie demands that the Kid reimburse him, which would leave too little for Moran. However, the Kid hits a switch, revealing hidden casino tables. All are occupied, mainly by the escaped women. The Kid and his still-loyal friends hold off the gangsters as the police initiate a raid. Moran and Oxford Charlie are arrested. The Kid assures the judge who sentenced him earlier that he will focus his attention on the home, which he will make a reality. Nellie’s husband Henry, free on parole, is joyously reunited with his wife.

Cast

• Bob Hope as The Lemon Drop Kid
• Marilyn Maxwell as Brainey Baxter
• Lloyd Nolan as Oxford Charlie
• Jane Darwell as Nellie Thursday
• Andrea King as Stella
• Fred Clark as Moose Moran
• Jay C. Flippen as Straight Flush Tony
• William Frawley as Gloomy Willie
• Harry Bellaver as Sam the Surgeon
• Sid Melton as Little Louie
• Ben Welden as Singing Solly
• Ida Moore as the Bird Lady
• Francis Pierlot as Henry
• Charles Cooley as Goomba
• Harry Shannon as the policeman
• Tor Johnson as The Super Swedish Angel
• Tom Dugan as No Thumbs Charlie
• Emory Parnell as Man bumped into on street
• Mary Moder As Holly Seller

Home media

On October 19, 2010, the film was released on DVD through Shout! Factory under license from the film’s current distributor, FremantleMedia North America.

Watch the movie

The Lemon Drop Kid is a 1951 comedy film based on the short story of the same name by Damon Runyon, starring Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell. Although Sidney Lanfield is credited as the director, Frank Tashlin reportedly was hired, uncredited, to finish the film.[citation needed] The story had previously been adapted as a 1934 movie starring Lee Tracy, with actress Ann Sheridan in a bit part. William Frawley is featured in both versions.

The song “Silver Bells,” sung by Hope and Maxwell, was introduced in this film.

On October 19, 2010, the film was released on DVD through Shout! Factory under license from the film’s current distributor, Fremantle Media North America.

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