Mr. Lemon of Orange

Mr. Lemon of Orange (1931) is a comedy film starring El Brendel and Fifi D'Orsay, directed by John G. Blystone, and released by Fox Film Corporation.

Cast (in credits order)

• El Brendel as Mr. Lemon/Silent McGee
• Fifi D'Orsay as Julie LaRue
• William Collier, Sr. as Mr. Blake
• Ruth Warren as Mrs. Blake
• Nat Pendleton as Gangster
• Joan Castle as June Blake (uncredited)
• Don Dillaway as Jerry (uncredited)
• Eddie Gribbon as Walter (uncredited)

Plot

El Brendel plays the dual role of Silent McGee, a tough gangster, and Mr. Oscar Lemon, a mild-mannered Swede who coincidentally looks exactly like the gangster McGee. Silent McGee disguises himself as a Swedish immigrant while running from the law, causing Mr. Lemon to be mistaken for the wanted man. Fifi D'Orsay stars as Julie LaRue, a comedic vamp who pursues the comparatively innocent Mr. Lemon.

Comedian Eddie Cantor wrote some of the dialogue for this film. Fox Film Corporation advertised Mr. Lemon of Orange as Brendel's first starring role, although the film Just Imagine (1930), which was released nearly six months earlier, made the same claim.

This film is notable as one of the few examples of El Brendel playing a character—in this instance, Silent McGee—who does not speak in Brendel's trademark Swedish accent. Silent McGee, when not in disguise, speaks in unaccented American English.

References

• Anthony Slide, Eccentrics of Comedy (1998)

External links

• Mr. Lemon of Orange at the American Film Institute Catalog
• Mr. Lemon of Orange at IMDb
• NY Times review of Mr. Lemon of Orange