O. Henry's Full House (1952)
O. Henry’s Full House (1952), released by Twentieth Century Fox, is an American anthology film featuring five different stories. Each story is based on a work by renowned author O. Henry. Narrator John Steinbeck presents a prologue providing insight into O. Henry’s life and mentions some of his other works that were not included in the film. Notably, A Retrieved Reformation tells the tale of reformed safecracker Jimmy Valentine.
1. The Cop and the Anthem (Henry Koster). With the approaching winter, Soapy, a homeless drifter, desires to spend three months in jail for warmth and sustenance. Despite Horace’s suggestion to seek shelter with the Salvation Army, Soapy declines. Desperate for a warm place to stay, he engineers various schemes to get arrested but is always pardoned. However, after experiencing a miraculous event at church, Soapy has a change of heart and contemplates finding employment. Can he achieve success in his new endeavor?
2. The Clarion Call (Henry Hathaway). After a homicide, the authorities are left without any leads. While examining the crime scene, Police Sergeant Barney Woods notices a pen and decides to track down an individual named Johnny Kernan. Upon locating Johnny, he is invited for a drink at his hotel room. During their conversation, Johnny reminisces about their past friendship, but Barney reminds him that he must apprehend him as he recognizes the pen as Johnny’s. However, Johnny brings up a previous debt of $1,000 that Barney owes him from a card game. Despite his attempts, Barney is unable to come up with the money to settle the debt.
3. The Last Leaf (Jean Negulesco). After being dumped by her significant other, 21-year-old Joanna Goodwin ventures out into the snow and ends up falling ill with pneumonia. Upon learning that Joanna has lost the will to live and is fixated on following falling leaves, her elder sibling Susan steps in to assist. Can their upstairs neighbor, artist Behrman, provide the necessary aid to rescue Joanna?
4. The Ransom of Red Chief (Howard Hawks). The scheming duo, Sam ‘Slick’ Brown and Bill Peoria, make a swift escape to the countryside in their vehicle. Their plan? To abduct young J.B. Dorset and demand a hefty ransom from his parents. However, they quickly discover that the boy is quite mischievous.
5. The Gift of the Magi (Henry King). On Christmas Eve, Della and her dear spouse Jim find themselves without any money but deeply enamored with each other. While Jim yearns to present Della with a tiara complimenting her gorgeous locks, she desires to gift him a chain for his pocket watch. Come Christmas night, they both manage to procure their desired presents through different means.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Charles LaughtonSoapy ('The Cop and the Anthem')  Marilyn MonroeStreetwalker ('The Cop and the Anthem')  David WayneHorace ('The Cop and the Anthem')  Dale RobertsonBarney Woods ('The Clarion Call')  Richard WidmarkJohnny Kernan ('The Clarion Call')  Anne BaxterJoanna Goodwin ('The Last Leaf')  Jean PetersSusan Goodwin ('The Last Leaf')  Gregory RatoffBehrman ('The Last Leaf')  Fred AllenSamuel Brown ('The Ransom of Red Chief')  Oscar LevantWilliam Smith ('The Ransom of Red Chief')  Kathleen FreemanMrs. Dorset ('The Ransom of Red Chief')  Jeanne CrainDella Young ('The Gift of the Magi')  Farley GrangerJim Young ('The Gift of the Magi') |
O. Henry’s Full House (1952), released by Twentieth Century Fox, is an American anthology film featuring five different stories. Each story is based on a work by renowned author O. Henry. Narrator John Steinbeck presents a prologue providing insight into O. Henry’s life and mentions some of his other works that were not included in the film. Notably, A Retrieved Reformation tells the tale of reformed safecracker Jimmy Valentine.
1. The Cop and the Anthem (Henry Koster). With the approaching winter, Soapy, a homeless drifter, desires to spend three months in jail for warmth and sustenance. Despite Horace’s suggestion to seek shelter with the Salvation Army, Soapy declines. Desperate for a warm place to stay, he engineers various schemes to get arrested but is always pardoned. However, after experiencing a miraculous event at church, Soapy has a change of heart and contemplates finding employment. Can he achieve success in his new endeavor?
2. The Clarion Call (Henry Hathaway). After a homicide, the authorities are left without any leads. While examining the crime scene, Police Sergeant Barney Woods notices a pen and decides to track down an individual named Johnny Kernan. Upon locating Johnny, he is invited for a drink at his hotel room. During their conversation, Johnny reminisces about their past friendship, but Barney reminds him that he must apprehend him as he recognizes the pen as Johnny’s. However, Johnny brings up a previous debt of $1,000 that Barney owes him from a card game. Despite his attempts, Barney is unable to come up with the money to settle the debt.
3. The Last Leaf (Jean Negulesco). After being dumped by her significant other, 21-year-old Joanna Goodwin ventures out into the snow and ends up falling ill with pneumonia. Upon learning that Joanna has lost the will to live and is fixated on following falling leaves, her elder sibling Susan steps in to assist. Can their upstairs neighbor, artist Behrman, provide the necessary aid to rescue Joanna?
4. The Ransom of Red Chief (Howard Hawks). The scheming duo, Sam ‘Slick’ Brown and Bill Peoria, make a swift escape to the countryside in their vehicle. Their plan? To abduct young J.B. Dorset and demand a hefty ransom from his parents. However, they quickly discover that the boy is quite mischievous.
5. The Gift of the Magi (Henry King). On Christmas Eve, Della and her dear spouse Jim find themselves without any money but deeply enamored with each other. While Jim yearns to present Della with a tiara complimenting her gorgeous locks, she desires to gift him a chain for his pocket watch. Come Christmas night, they both manage to procure their desired presents through different means.
