A wealthy industrialist has just died and left behind a bright red apple as the bequest of a dying man to his heirs. The gesture exposes the true nature of three very unusual people who have gathered expecting to share in the rich man's estate. We learn each of their backstories as they struggle to decode this strange message from beyond the grave.

"The O. Henry Playhouse" is a 1957 single season, 39-episode TV series. O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) is considered one of America's greatest writers of short stories. His writings are laced with humor and irony and often end with a sly twist ending. Veteran character actor Thomas Mitchell stars in each episode as writer O. Henry himself as he relates his stories to his publisher, his housekeeper, a barber, a bartender, or the cop on the beat. In some episodes, O. Henry meets his characters as he discovers firsthand the story he will later write. This unique storytelling method gives great insight into the famous author's creative process.

You can read the original literary version of "The Sphinx Apple" HERE and compare it with the many changes in the film adaptation. "The Sphinx Apple is one of 13 episodes in volume three of "The O. Henry Playhouse." The films have been beautifully restored on DVD by the home video label ClassicFlix!