O HENRY'S FULL HOUSE splits its 114 minutes into five episodes, some of which are obviously more filmic and better adapted than others. Directed by such stalwarts as Henry Hathaway, Henry King, Howard Hawks and Jean Negulesco, all those segments are very effectively introduced by John Steinbeck - who would win his Nobel prize for Literature nine years later - and there is seamless dovetailing between episodes.
I am particularly fond of THE LAST LEAF - glorious interpretations from two incredibly beautiful women, Anne Baxter and Jean Peters - and GIFT OF THE MAGI, a truly touching tale of love.
Despite the vast majority of good souls in the various segments, it is the villain, a truly repellent criminal and woman batterer played by Richard Widmark in THE CLARION CALL, that steals the show.
Charles Laughton, in THE COP AND THE ANTHEM, also catches the eye, although his acting is needlessly overdone.
THE RANSOM OF THE RED CHIEF probably inspired the makers of HOME ALONE, but I rate it a notch below the rest in terms of quality.
All told, well worth watching.
I am particularly fond of THE LAST LEAF - glorious interpretations from two incredibly beautiful women, Anne Baxter and Jean Peters - and GIFT OF THE MAGI, a truly touching tale of love.
Despite the vast majority of good souls in the various segments, it is the villain, a truly repellent criminal and woman batterer played by Richard Widmark in THE CLARION CALL, that steals the show.
Charles Laughton, in THE COP AND THE ANTHEM, also catches the eye, although his acting is needlessly overdone.
THE RANSOM OF THE RED CHIEF probably inspired the makers of HOME ALONE, but I rate it a notch below the rest in terms of quality.
All told, well worth watching.