Full House (1952/I)

Directors:

Henry Hathaway
Howard Hawks

Writers:

Richard L. Breen (segment)
Walter Bullock (segment)

Release Date:

21 November 1952 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A dozen top stars - five famed directors bring you the best stories of O. Henry!

Plot:

John Steinbeck introduces a quintet of five of O. Henry's most celebrated stories from his New York Period (1902-1910) in this anthology film.

Plot Keywords:

Ransom | Winter | Artist | Christmas Gift | Murder

Cast

Fred Allen	...	Sam 'Slick' Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Anne Baxter	...	Joanna Goodwin (segment "The Last Leaf")
Jeanne Crain	...	Della (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
Farley Granger	...	Jim (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
Charles Laughton	...	Soapy (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
Oscar Levant	...	Bill Peoria (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Marilyn Monroe	...	Streetwalker (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
Jean Peters	...	Susan Goodwin (segment "The Last Leaf")
Gregory Ratoff	...	Behrman (segment "The Last Leaf")
Dale Robertson	...	Barney Woods (segment "The Clarion Call")
David Wayne	...	Horace (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
Richard Widmark	...	Johnny Kernan (segment "The Clarion Call")
Joyce Mackenzie	...	Hazel Woods (as Joyce MacKenzie)
Lee Aaker	...	J.B. Dorset aka Red Chief (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Richard Rober	...	Chief of Detectives (segment "The Clarion Call")

Also Known As:

Baghdad on the Subway (USA) (working title)
O. Henry's Full House (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

117 min | West Germany:95 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-8 | USA:Approved (PCA #16007) | Sweden:15

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

When preview critics felt that "The Ransom of Red Chief" episode was weak, it was cut from the official premiere prints. When the film was released to television in the early 60's, the sequence was restored.

Quotes:

Soapy: It may interest to you to know, my good man, that I and the minutest coin of the realm are total strangers.
Waiter: How's that?
Soapy: I said I was broke!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess" (1996)

Soundtrack:

After the Ball

Delightful DVD!

The Fox DVD release of their 1952 "O. Henry' Full House" is a gem in every way. Not only do we get a beautifully restored rendition of five of O. Henry's finest short stories, but we also get a wonderful set of special features that enrich our appreciation and understanding of the author. It starts with the enclosed insert that gives some fascinating information on one of America's pure-eminent storytellers. This insert is very well written and tells a great deal about William Sidney Porter, who took up the pen name of O. Henry. And the "goodies" continue with the DVD. Both the featurette ("The Life and Writing of O. Henry) and the commentary are in the capable hands of Dr. Jenny Lind Porter, Ph.D. I don't know if the Porter's are related, but she certainly knows a great deal about O. Henry -- and loves her subject. She is a delight to learn from. The featurette of "The O. Henry Museum" in Texas, is also a treat. There are dozens and dozens of stills from the film and on the set, as well as a nice look at the original Press Book that theatres used in selling the film. The BIG "Extra" are two treasures from the vault when 20th Century Fox was known as the studio of William Fox. Most of the silent films of the William Fox period no longer survive, so it is very special to find (in very nice condition) two O. Henry short stories from the year 1927! One is called "Girls" and the other "Man About Town". Each run a little under 20 minutes. These are two of thirteen silent O. Henry short stories turned into films by Fox during the silent era. Saddly they haven't been scored, but they do come with tints and are in nice condition. This DVD is a true treasure that is well worth adding to your collection.