When a trio of ex-convicts led by Mattie Appleyard is released from prison, they hope to open a general store using money Mattie has saved during his 40-year sentence. This attempt is met with great resistance from a corrupt prison official and the banker who issued Mattie the check.

A dozen top stars - five famed directors bring you the best stories of O. Henry! Five O' Henry stories, each separate. The primary one from the critic's acclaim was "The Cop and the Anthem". Soapy tells fellow bum Horace that he is going to get arrested so he can spend the winter in a nice jail cell. He fails. He can't even accost a woman; she turns out to be a streetwalker. The other stories are "The Clarion Call", "The Last Leaf”, "The Ransom of Red Chief", and "The Gift of the Magi".

Sunday Dinner for a Soldier
    Starring: Anne Baxter, John Hodiak, Charles Winninger 
                    Anne Revere & Chill Wills

A poor family in Florida saves all the money they can in order to plan something special for the soldier they've invited to Sunday dinner. They don't realize that their request to invite the soldier never got mailed. On the day of the scheduled dinner, another soldier is brought to their home and love soon blossoms between him and Tessa, the young woman who runs the home

Swamp Water
    Starring: Anne Baxter, Walter Brennan, Dana Andrews,
                    Walter Huston, John Carradine
                      & Virginia Gilmore

A hunter happens upon a fugitive and his daughter living in a Georgia swamp. He falls in love with the girl and persuades the fugitive to return to town.


A Ticket to Tomahawk
    Starring: Anne Baxter, Dan Dailey,
                    Walter Brennan & Rory Callhoun

In 1876 Dawson wants to prevent a train from getting to Tomahawk CO on time, to keep it from competing with his stage coach line. Kit, who must get the train to its goal, forces Johnny aboard as the needed passenger. Madame Adelaide's showgirls (including Marilyn as Clara) ride along and, en route to Tomahawk

Walk on the Wild Side
    Starring: Anne Baxter, Laurence Harvey,
                    Jane Fonda & Barbara Stanwyck

At the Doll House, a 1930's New Orleans bordello, Hallie is the main attraction both for clients and for Jo, the madame. Her comfortable if tedious life is disrupted by the arrival in town of Dove Linkhorn, her true love of three years before who is now searching for her. When Linkhorn learns the truth of her profession he triggers a chain of events involving a number of people, including the young Kitty with whom he traveled from Texas and who is now the Doll House newest recruit.

Yellow Sky
    Starring: Anne Baxter, Gregory Peck,
                    Richard Widmark & Harry Morgan

A band of bank robbers on the run from a posse flee into the desert. Near death from lack of water they stumble into what appears to be a ghost town, only to discover an old prospector and his granddaughter living there. The robbers discover that the old man has been mining gold and set out to make a quick fortune by robbing the pair. Their plan runs foul when the gang leader, Stretch (Gregory Peck), falls for the granddaughter (Anne Baxter), which sets off a showdown between the entire gang.

You’re My Everything
    Starring: Anne Baxter, Dan Dailey & Buster Keaton

In 1924, stage-struck Boston blueblood Hannah Adams picks up musical star Tim O'Connor and takes him home for dinner. One thing leads to another, and when Tim's show rolls on to Chicago a new Mrs. O'Connor comes along as incompetent chorus girl. Hollywood beckons, and we follow the star careers of the O'Connor family in silents and talkies. Includes good imitation "silents" with classic cameo by Buster Keaton.