“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is a short film directed by Robert Enrico. It is based on the short story by Ambrose Bierce. Originally released in France in 1962 as “La Rivière du hibou,” it was later broadcast in the United States in 1964 as an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” The film stars Roger Jacquet, Anne Cornaly, and Stéphane Fey.
The film is set during the American Civil War. It begins with a Confederate sympathizer named Peyton Farquhar (Roger Jacquet) standing on a railroad bridge with a noose around his neck, hands bound, and guards surrounding him. Farquhar is about to be hanged by Union soldiers for attempting to sabotage the bridge.
As the soldiers prepare for the execution, the camera captures the serene beauty of the surrounding environment, juxtaposed with the grim reality of the situation. The tension builds as the execution sequence progresses with meticulous detail.
When the plank is removed, Farquhar falls, but instead of dying, the rope miraculously breaks, plunging him into the river below. The shock of the cold water and the realization of his unexpected survival propel Farquhar into action. He manages to free his hands and swims to the surface, narrowly avoiding bullets from the soldiers who are now trying to shoot him.
Escaping the gunfire, Farquhar is carried downstream by the current and eventually reaches the riverbank. He begins a desperate journey home, driven by thoughts of his wife (Anne Cornaly) and children.
Exhausted and battered, Farquhar emerges from the forest and sees his home in the distance. Overcome with emotion, he runs towards it, his wife appearing at the entrance to greet him with open arms. Just as he is about to embrace her, there is a sudden, jarring transition.
The film abruptly cuts back to the bridge, revealing that Farquhar’s entire escape and journey home was an elaborate hallucination occurring in the final moments of his life. The execution has proceeded as planned, and Farquhar is dead, hanging from the bridge.
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” is a powerful and haunting film that explores themes of time, reality, and the human psyche under extreme duress.
Not sure I’d call this a Kids classic myself.
The Other Cinema 