**”O. Henry’s Full House”** (1952) is an anthology film featuring adaptations of five classic short stories by the renowned American author O. Henry. Directed by five different filmmakers, the movie brings together an impressive ensemble cast, including Marilyn Monroe in a brief but notable appearance. Each segment explores themes typical of O. Henry’s works, such as irony, wit, and human nature, often culminating in unexpected twists.
### Film Details:
– **Title**: O. Henry’s Full House
– **Release Year**: 1952
– **Genre**: Anthology, Drama
– **Directors**: Henry Hathaway, Howard Hawks, Henry Koster, Henry King, Jean Negulesco
– **Screenwriters**: Various (adaptations of O. Henry’s short stories)
– **Narrator**: John Steinbeck
– **Cinematography**: Charles G. Clarke, Lloyd Ahern, Milton Krasner, Joe MacDonald, Leon Shamroy
– **Production Company**: 20th Century Fox
– **Runtime**: 117 minutes
### Plot Summary:
**”O. Henry’s Full House”** is comprised of five distinct segments, each based on a different O. Henry short story:
1. **”The Cop and the Anthem”** (Directed by Henry Koster): This segment tells the humorous story of **Soapy** (Charles Laughton), a homeless man trying desperately to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a warm jail cell. Despite his attempts, fate intervenes in ironic ways to prevent his imprisonment.
2. **”The Clarion Call”** (Directed by Henry Hathaway): This crime drama follows a police detective (**Dale Robertson**) who recognizes an old friend (**Richard Widmark**) as a wanted murderer. Despite his duty to bring him in, the detective is faced with a moral dilemma due to a debt he owes to his friend.
3. **”The Last Leaf”** (Directed by Jean Negulesco): In one of O. Henry’s most poignant stories, two struggling artists, **Sue** (Anne Baxter) and **Johnsy** (Jean Peters), live together in a small New York apartment. When Johnsy falls gravely ill, she becomes convinced that she will die when the last leaf falls from a vine outside her window. Their elderly neighbor, **Behrman** (Gregory Ratoff), a fellow artist, plays a pivotal role in a story about hope, sacrifice, and the enduring power of art.
4. **”The Ransom of Red Chief”** (Directed by Howard Hawks): This comedic segment tells the story of two hapless criminals, **Sam** (Fred Allen) and **Bill** (Oscar Levant), who kidnap a young boy, **Red Chief** (Lee Aaker), hoping for a hefty ransom. However, the boy’s wild behavior turns the tables on the kidnappers, as they end up being more desperate to get rid of him than his family is to pay the ransom.
5. **”The Gift of the Magi”** (Directed by Henry King): The final segment adapts O. Henry’s most famous story. It follows **Jim** (Farley Granger) and **Della** (Jeanne Crain), a young, impoverished couple who sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy each other meaningful Christmas gifts. The story is a timeless tale of love, generosity, and irony.
### Marilyn Monroe’s Role:
Marilyn Monroe appears in a brief role in the segment **”The Cop and the Anthem”** as a young woman named **Streetwalker**. Although her screen time is limited, Monroe brings her signature charm to the role. Her character interacts with **Soapy** (Charles Laughton) in a fleeting but memorable scene, where she plays a glamorous woman Soapy encounters during his misadventures. Monroe’s appearance in the film is small, but it was part of a significant year for her, as she was transitioning from supporting roles to more prominent parts in major Hollywood films.
### Themes:
– **Irony and Twist Endings**: True to O. Henry’s style, each story culminates in a twist, often ironic, that reveals deeper truths about the characters and their circumstances. Whether humorous, tragic, or heartwarming, these endings leave a lasting impression.
– **Human Nature and Morality**: Many of the stories explore the moral complexities of human nature. Characters are often faced with dilemmas that test their integrity, loyalty, or compassion, offering viewers a reflection on the choices we make in difficult situations.
– **Love and Sacrifice**: Particularly in **”The Gift of the Magi”** and **”The Last Leaf”**, the film emphasizes the themes of selfless love and sacrifice, showing how acts of kindness and generosity can have profound emotional and spiritual impacts.
### Reception:
**”O. Henry’s Full House”** received generally positive reviews upon its release, with critics praising the film’s faithful adaptations of O. Henry’s beloved stories. The anthology format allowed for a variety of tones, from comedy to drama to sentimentality, all unified by O. Henry’s signature narrative style.
The film also gained attention for having John Steinbeck, the famed American author, as the narrator. His presence lent an air of literary gravitas to the project, and his deep, thoughtful voice set the tone for each segment.
While the film was not a major box office hit, it has since gained recognition for its strong performances, particularly from Charles Laughton and Jean Peters, and for its ability to bring O. Henry’s classic tales to life on the big screen.
### Fun Fact:
This film marked one of the rare instances where an American literary figure like **John Steinbeck** took part in narrating a Hollywood film. His admiration for O. Henry’s work was evident, and his voice added a layer of storytelling richness to the film.
### Legacy:
**”O. Henry’s Full House”** remains a notable anthology film for its faithful interpretations of O. Henry’s works. For fans of the author, the film captures the essence of his short stories—bittersweet, ironic, and full of humanity. Though Monroe’s role in the film was small, it contributed to a pivotal year in her career, which would soon see her rise to greater fame in leading roles.
Overall, **”O. Henry’s Full House”** is a charming, well-crafted anthology that showcases the timeless appeal of O. Henry’s storytelling, with a memorable cast that includes some of the biggest stars of the 1950s.
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