Ambrose Bierce's An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Ambrose Bierce's classic hallucinatory short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge has been adapted to film at least three times. The first version was a 1932 short subject directed by Charles Vidor; the second was a two-part 1959 installment of TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents; and the third was this award-winning French short, adapted and directed by Robert Enrico. The time is the American Civil War: Southern plantation-owner Peyton Farquahr (Roger Jacquet) has been condemned to death for spying against the Union cause. As he prepares to be hanged from the Owl Creek bridge, Farquahr morosely contemplates his fate and fondly recalls his loving wife (Anne Cornaly). The commanding officer gives the signal, Farquahr is dropped off the side of the bridge -- and suddenly the rope breaks. Farquahr breaks loose of his bonds, remains submerged in the creek as the soldiers' bullets whiz all about him, breathlessly reaches dry land, and painstakingly makes his way home to the arms of his wife. As he rushes towards her and.......ah -- to say more would be to ruin the surprise. The music by Henri Lanoe includes an original ballad, "Live Livin' Man", sung spiritual-style in English. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge made its American TV premiere as the February 28, 1964 installment of the anthology series The Twilight Zone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Black and White
• Features:
  • Author's bio
  • Discussion topics

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Live Action Short - 1963 (Marcel Ichac)

• Cannes Film Festival

•     Won Palme d'Or for Short Film - 1962

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Stephane Fey
       Pierre Danny
       Anne Cornaly - Wife

• Director:

  Robert Enrico

• Producer:

  Marcel Ichac, Paul de Roubaix

• Screenwriter:

  Robert Enrico

• Book Author:

  Ambrose Bierce

• Cinematographer:

  Jean Boffety

• Composer (Music Score):

  Henri Lanoë

• Segment Producer:

  William Froug