Continuing on last week’s theme, I’ll share more of my recent movie watching. Unlike last week’s movie, this one, though a black and white work, isn’t a classic. I’d never even heard of it until I ran across it on my TV schedule. Still, being familiar with the name O. Henry, the nom de plume of American author William Sidney Porter, known for the surprise endings of his short stories, I couldn’t help but watch it. And the movie, O. Henry’s Full House, held many surprises for me other than the endings of the stories, for early in my life, I’d read every one of them.
The great John Steinbeck in a rare on-screen appearance, introducing one of the five pieces.
One of the first surprises was the opening narration by another author I was very familiar with, the great John Steinbeck, another man I had read many works of, such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and East of Eden. I’d only seen photos of this man and found it fascinating to actually see him speaking and hear his voice. And he made this rare on-camera appearance and introduced each of the five stories. Another unsuspected surprise was to see a young Marilyn Monroe in a minor role as a prostitute. Also making appearances are other now well-known performers, Richard Widmark, Dale Robertson and Anne Baxter.
On the cusp of stardom, Marilyn Monroe in a scene from “The Cop and the Anthem”.
Of the five stories chosen for this movie, all are well known pieces: “The Ransom of Red Chief”; “The Gift of the Magi”; “The Cop and the Anthem”; “The Last Leaf”; and “The Clarion Call”. Most of these stories take place in a turn-of-the-century New York City, where O. Henry had moved in the latter years of his life to be near his publishers. And they all feature the ironic twist endings his stories are most notable for.
Actually born here in my home state of North Carolina, O. Henry moved here near my home city of Asheville during the last year of his life hoping to help his failing health recuperate. But he didn’t find the laid-back area conducive to writing; he missed the busyness of New York and the inspiration that it gave him, so he moved his office to downtown Asheville but still found it to be empty of noise and people. He then returned to New York City where he soon died. His wife, a native of Asheville, then brought him back to Asheville to be buried at Riverside Cemetery, near another famous author, Thomas Wolfe, an Asheville native son who penned the famous autobiographical novel “Look Homeward Angel”.
I just recently discovered that O. Henry created a pop culture icon of my childhood, the Cisco Kid, in his story “The Caballero’s Way”. However, this “Kid” was not the heroic Mexican caballero depicted in the movies, radio and television of my era but actually a cruel and vicious killer. And though this story had the classic trick ending, unlike many of his others this one ended tragically.
Once again, my love of books and movies have tied in together, filling my life and imagination with joy.
How cool! I have a love of books and movies as well! 🙂
I know very little about older movies. I’m ashamed to say I don’t know most of the older actors from when my parents were kids. I think I should go and check out some of these movies because I bet I would love them.
I love the really old films. They have something about them that modern films just don’t have. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Marilyn Monroe in that one.
My grandmother was a huge fan of black and white films and I always enjoyed watching them with her. It looks like you have been taking in some great classics!
I just wanted to say I love these posts! Truly enjoy your take on some of my own favorites. Thank you – keep them coming!
I must admit I haven’t watched many older films. The lack of colour tends to deter me! This post makes me want to reconsider my decision!
It’s always interesting to see actors and actresses before they got big. So seeing Marilyn Monroe in a minor role is interesting to me.
I love watching old movies whenever I have the time. I haven’t seen this Marilyn Monroe movie, yet. I will look for this.
I haven’t seen enough old movies. I really don’t even know where to find them to watch them!
I haven’t seen this movie either! I think the only truly old black and white movie I’ve seen is Casablanca.
Black and white films are always so much fun. I love to see the old time action in them and the story lines are very much real.
I am most definitely a John Steinbeck girl. I always loved teaching his works to my students, especially “Of Mice and Men.” I just love the power of literature.
I love watching movies with stars who were just starting out in their acting careers. I’m going to look for The Cop and The Anthem and O. Henry’s Full House. Both sound entertaining.
I haven’t ever seen this movie. My dad has probably seen it at some point. He loves the old black and white films.
I always feel like I know a lot about older movies. However, this post showed me that I still have so much to learn and see!
As a kid my parents let me have a black and white tv in my room. Back then a lot of shows were still reruns of black and white broadcast shows. You just don’t see that programming aired as much anymore
I don’t know much about old black and white movies. I should know more considering my Mom still watches black and white TV as if color doesn’t exist.
Black and white films are some of the best. I have only seen a few shows in black and white though. They do tend to me some of the best ones too.
I love a good black and white classic. We just watched Harvey with Jimmy Stewart. It is one of my favorites!
I love older films and my parents and I still regularly get together to watch them! My son has taken quite a liking to them too! I so enjoyed this post
It really took more for an actor to perform well seeing as though there weren’t many special effects available as well as other tweaks they can make now a days… I really appreciate the black and white older films! Looks like a good movie : )
I haven’t seen this movie in a long time. There’s something about movies that were inspired by books. They have more depth and more meaning.