O. Henry's Full House / The Luck of the Irish

In O. Henry's Full House, an anthology film from Twentieth Century Fox, we get five of his stories, some of which remain famous to this day: "The Cop and the Anthem," "The Clarion Call," "The Ransom of Red Chief," "Gift of the Magi" and "The Last Leaf."

As with so many Fox films, Alfred Newman also has to be recognized as one of the leading players. Ably assisted by his close collaborator, vocal director Ken Darby, Newman brings his customary sensitivity to every sequence, and this is some of the most beautiful music he ever wrote. It's a classic Newman score, filled with his exquisite themes, none more so than his masterful "The Last Leaf."

The Luck of the Irish was composed by Cyril J. Mockridge and was conducted by Alfred Newman. Mockridge never wrote a lovelier or more entertaining composition than he gave to this film, an all-but-forgotten comedy/fantasy. His music perfectly follows every footstep of the physical and spiritual journey of the characters, and is a delight from start to finish.

This is the world premiere release for each of these scores, lovingly mixed and mastered by Mike Matessino from the elements in the Fox vaults. The sound is excellent and is an early example of the push-pull miking techniques of the time, resulting in a beautiful stereo presentation.

This release is limited to 1000 copies.