O. Henry’s Full House

a film by Henry Koster, Henry Hathaway, Jean Negulesco, Howard Hawks and Henry King
based on short stories by O. Henry

Yesterday, we went to see this film screened as a special “literary” session organised by Asociación de Cine Vértigo. I found it thoroughly enjoyable, bar the completely unnecessary interventions by John Steinbeck. But why Cuatro páginas de la vida (“Four pages of life”) if there are five films in the anthology?

According to Wikipedia,

When the film was first premiered in September 1952 in Los Angeles, it consisted of five parts, including Howard Hawks’ “The Ransom of Red Chief”.

The Hawks short was so poorly received that the studio removed it before the film opened in New York that October, leading some outlets to describe the film as O. Henry’s Four of a Kind.

Remarkable, given that the Red Chief is arguably the funniest part. For me, it is not even “arguably”. It remains a mystery why the Spanish title still refers to the “four”.

One of the films we grew up on, Strictly Business (Деловые люди) by Leonid Gaidai, also includes a brilliant adaptation of The Ransom of Red Chief, starring the great Georgy Vitsin and Aleksei Smirnov. Imprinting and stuff notwithstanding, I think I prefer the Hawks’s version. Kathleen Freeman and Irving Bacon as the parents of J.B. are the best.

And another Soviet cinema connection: the opening scene of The Cop and the Anthem reminded us the final of 1975 Hello, I’m Your Aunt! (Здравствуйте, я ваша тётя!). Considering that the latter movie quotes many classic American comedies, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.

“Was that union blessed with any issue?” “Er... What did you say?” “Have they got any children?” “Well...” “You know, those little objects people get after they’re married.” “Yeah. Well, I reckon you could say they have in a way.” “Yeah.” “May I ask what you mean by that foggy response?” “Well, I reckon you could call J.B. a child, if you wanted to.” “J.B.?” “J.B.” “That’s what they call him.” “Oh, it’s a boy.” “I reckon you might, uh, call him a boy.” “Yeah.” “How old is he?” “J.B. is nigh on to 10 now.” “What a lovable age in a boy.” “Where did you say the Dorsets were living now?” “Didn’t say.” “Down the road a piece. A little white house with broken windows.” “You ain’t told us why did you wanna buy the land for.” “You know, I find your conversation rather limited, but very stimulating. Thank you.”