An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge - Twilight-Tober Zone

[@EgonDaLatz]

I watched the original French version in uni. I remember how unrealistic the guy's escape felt, but I was like, "Ok, let's see where this one goes." The ending was genuinely a shock - in a good sense. Never knew it was adapted for The Twilight Zone but I can see why Rod chose to adapt it.

[@nathanielvaughn6728]

"Adapted" might be a strong word for what's essentially a mild re-edit.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

I always liked this episode. It shows how to tell a story with very little dialogue. Rod Serling even introducing the story differently from other episodes makes it stand out

[@trinaq]

I agree, I couldn't find it for years, but I'm happy that it's included on DVD and Blu Ray.

[@racheljackson4428]

Just like the Eerie show, Soupe Opera. don't believe me? see for yourself.

[@trinaq]

I never realised that this episode even existed until I saw it on DVD, since it's omitted from most TV broadcasts. It's not a conventional TZ episode, but it really fits the show's style, and manages to be eerie with minimal dialogue.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

It’s not? I’ve seen seen this episode a few times when Twilight Zone is on TV

[@trinaq]

​@@Omar-wq9dzYou're lucky, in my country, it goes from "Spur of the Moment" to "Queen of the Nile."

[@coolanimegirls]

I saw it I believe on Netflix or another streaming service this episode was included

[@SnowdropHill]

This one truly moved me. I knew there must be a catch when he suddenly stumbled upon his home, and was running to his lady-love's arms, but the episode still had me enthralled to the very end. Truly a beautiful work.

[@marianparoo1544]

One of the most brilliant short stories ever written

[@kaileykrantz]

I remember reading the original short story in high school.

[@austinmanriquez4785]

Yeah, that twist got me. In my class we had to read it, then we watched the short movie. I think it's still up on KZbin

[@IfOUGHTpIRANHAz]

I remember reading it in school too.

[@zacharycollins9485]

Shout-out Ambrose Bierce!!

[@buddyzilla4557]

Same. We watched the film afterward. I was in Jr. High though. Was the same class we read a bunch of other short stories, books or experts in our literature workbook that had film adaptions. There was three skeleton key, Sarah, Proud and tall and a few others. It was also the Bridge to Terrebithia and The Giver class. Normally we had an assignment tied to the differences between film and movie but sadly the movie for the former wasn't out yet. For those last two we had more unique assignments. The giver was not so bad with us having to write one more chapter explaining what we felt the ending was hinting at. For Bridge I fortunately, we had to write eulogy for Leslie as if we were her best friend instead. Looking back on all these, I'm realizing it was a freaking morbid year..between false hope for escaping a hanging, infant euthanasia through forehead syringe and fictional funeral roleplay, I am shocked they allowed all that. I'm pretty sure this short would not be allowed to be shown anymore along with half the other stuff in that class..

[@DMan_55Blue]

I remember doing a report on this story

[@giovanniorellana2200]

This episode I watched for the first time in High School during my Theater class

[@izzywade6751]

@@giovanniorellana2200 English class for me. Sophomore year, I think?

[@SuperSwordman1]

I forget what class it was, and it might have been middle school, but yeah same.

[@esteemedmortal5917]

I was fortunate to watch this without knowing the twist ahead of time.

[@markwells3289]

This is one of the best short films ever made; kudos to TZ to showing it, even if they didn't make it.

[@fredrikcarlstedt393]

A true treat from the Twillight Zone .

[@Nasser851000]

That bridge sounds like a 😎hoot!

[@trinaq]

Haha, definite rimshot moment! 🥁

[@TCHorwood-xq7mw]

Here, take my upvote 👍

[@Cameleonbates]

One of my favorite short stories and twists!

[@pixlsw0rd443]

I could have sworn I had seen this Twilight Zone episode before, but the name and plot escaped me. The only thing I recalled was the bridge. Watching Twilighttoberzone for years now, i thought maybe it would show eventually but none did. Seeing this today blew my mind! Cheers

[@Dominos-be6sd]

While it's kind of sad the last thing to be produced for the og twilight zone wasn't really original, I feel like rods narration is a good way to end off the run. It has a real "passing of the torch" feeling, as if he's directly telling the audience to continue to seek out those foreign but beautiful stories that could once only be found in the twilight zone

[@Olsens13]

Watched this in High School, we all laughed at how old & cringe it was in comparison to today’s movies & acting. Well, shit you not, as I got older I looked back & realized this was a great piece of historical film. Very well done, & nostalgic for me to boot.

[@legionaireb]

I got a 'Best Of' VHS Twilight Zone collection when I was younger. Only about 6 episodes, but this was on there. I finally ready the story in my college Am Lit course.

[@Tactical_Therapist]

I had the same vhs and brought it in my high school class to watch when we read the short story.

[@wstine79]

Great pronunciation of the french names and phrases.

[@spookyseasonsarah]

I saw this episode for the first time last year during SyFy's NYE marathon. I missed the intro, and then was taken aback by how different everything looked and sounded compared to a usual ep. My family and I have watched SyFy's marathons forever, and I think this was the first time any of us had seen it. I wonder how often this one ends up in the rotation.

[@JD-iu6rv]

I remember reading this story during I think elementary school and it sticking with me. I was even more surprised a few years later when American Dad referenced it by having an episode with a loosely similar plot to it lol

[@rustyshackelford312]

Stan Smith duked in the pool!

[@Wildcat_Media]

I saw that you were reviewing this one and I knew I recognized the title, but I didn't think I'd ever seen the Twilight Zone episode. But I remember reading the short story either in high school or college (or probably both). It's a great story - sad and poignant. Interesting that the TZ airing was roughly during the 100 year anniversary of the Civil War. I'm sure there was a lot of recognition of that time period back then.

[@van8ryan]

I first heard of Ambrose Bierce when we read this short story in High School English, but Bierce's real life is one of the most intriguing and mysterious biography. He was also used as a main character (played by the late great Michael Parks) in FROM DUSK TIL DAWN 3: THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER (which honestly I like even more than the original Tarantino/Rodriguez film)

[@mitchzurbrigg2403]

This was the first Twiloght zone episode I ever saw, I still remember thinking the twist was so unexpected to me I had to go and watch the whole series

[@julieporter7805]

I read this story in high school. What is memorable is even though it's not produced as such, it fits right into the series.

[@mmem4264]

This just felt different, more somber, more important. Good job capturing the vibe lol.

[@shainewhite2781]

One of my favorites and also one of the best episodes, even though its a short film that won an Oscar.

[@davidzdziarek-zl8cu]

At least with THIS classic script, instead of The Bewitchin' Pool, Twilight Zone didn't leave officially in utter shame. This came off so very well, and restored the production budget for the series. Twilight Zone, though not off the air yet, ended Its' production gracefully, and mercifully.

[@toshirodragon]

I gotta hand it to Robert Enrico, he did a fabulous job of ramping up the tension in the first 10 - 15 minutes.

[@OEMishGarage]

I first saw this episode in a high school film class and loved it.

[@siobhanrikan6428]

My elementary school showed this as a special movie assembly to most of the school in the early 70s. I must have been around 7 and it made such a huge impact that I never forgot it. When I finally saw it again many decades later, I was surprised how well I had remembered it. The movie had no TZ credits, so I didn’t know it was a TZ episode until a local channel was showing all the episodes in order and this one finally aired. Mind blown. But what a strange thing to show 7-10 year olds.

[@RialVestro]

The idea of a character living a long life span in a short span of time is something I know better from an episode of Star Trek the next generation where Picard basically downloaded the knowledge of an entire dead culture into his brain from an alien probe. Also I've personally experienced this in real life. I had a dream once where I was born on an Amish farm, left the Amish church when I turned 16, became a fire fighter, got married, had a daughter, got divorced, lost contact with my daughter for years, then suffering from alzheimers stole a fire truck after hearing that there was a fire at the farm where I grew up and my daughter followed me there. It started raining which helped put out the fire and I my daughter found me inside the barn where I ended up dying in her arms. 90 years in under 8 hours.

[@toshirodragon]

That is my favorite Star Trek episode. It was really well done and makes me cry every time.

[@iamtriston666]

Oh yeah I remember this story. I always liked it,

[@vanguardduelist]

I remember seeing this episode as a child and its ending always stuck with me. Been waiting for you to get to this one

[@Marinanor]

That sequence where it's going back and forth between the guy running towards his wife was hilarious to me.

[@jazzew]

Wow...I never saw this episode, and it looks so deep and thrilling. There's something to be said about carrying an episode with next to no dialogue... Also, I love that short clip of the man singing...so haunting.

[@ashb7846]

I first saw this episode today maybe an hour or two before this video was posted! Kismet! I was looking for episodes I hadn’t seen and oh man, this one hit me good. Though I felt some moments were too drawn out, the buildup, visual storytelling with minimal dialogue, and cinematography kept me interested in this plot, and that final twist practically snapped me back too it was so unexpected. The “Livin’ Man” song adds a lot of emotion to the overall atmosphere of his escape so much so I had to look it up. It’s not an episode I’d watch multiple times, but I agree it is one that should be seen.

[@staticradio724]

I'm a little impressed that Rod's opening narration explicitly spells out that the episode was a film made by someone else. I feel like most shows would have tried to hide the fact.

[@MCDexpo]

FIIIIINALLY! MY FAVORITE EPISODE TODAY IS A GREAT DAY 😊😊😊

[@claytonrios1]

The Twilight Zone at Cannes Film Festival. Plus the French made this one. That's not the only reason this episode is unique.

[@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat]

Ambrose Bierce, an incredible writer.

[@kdusel1991]

This is one of my favorite episodes!!

[@LordGreystoke]

The threat of imagination - brilliant!

[@americaroleplayer]

I remember we read this story when I was in high school and then watched this movie! I thought it was so cool that they'd adapted an old story like this! and very accurately too!

[@CinnaSpicey]

I watched this episode once on me TV many years ago. I haven't seen it since that one time.

[@BeeDub57]

"Whatcha doin'?" "Nothin', just hanging around."

[@adrianagallicchio9239]

I remember this short movie from junior high.

[@Bardic_Knowledge]

It took me a bit to remember where I'd heard the title before. Red over on OSP mentioned it in the Trope Talk on All Just a Dream.

[@edgarbanuelos6472]

I remember seeing this in screenwriting class, but I never had any idea it was a Twilight Zone episode.

[@kilroywashere513]

I have read this short story in English class back when I was in high school once💁🏻‍♂.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Twilight-tober is awesome! Thanks For this Guys! Love this series 🎃🎃🎃

[@ThenewTchannel]

I read this story in a high school English class, and then saw the TZ episode in the same class. I loved it

[@chadkimmel8957]

I remember reading this story in my junior year of high school. We watched the short in class too. I believe it was the one this episode was based on, and not the original.

[@Olivia_Dreamrider]

Holy Cow, I think this was one of the first Zone episodes I ever saw!

[@SirPreyas]

An excellent episode

[@kailebdv]

This is one they showed us in school after reading the story!

[@sylviasull]

Love twilight-tober.

[@justsomeokami8867]

The first time I saw this was in high school. I never knew until then that Twilight Zone had broadcasted it.

[@JabbarMuhammad-f8j]

A most interesting short story from the Twilight zone

[@Kittynyow113]

i saw this in highschool

[@keithdean9149]

We both read the story and watched the film for High School English. It works really great for a TZ episode.

[@jonswecker6556]

i read the short its haunting

[@jlev1028]

It's a shame you had to blur out the hanging. It was such a good twist to an episode that had to rely on atmosphere and visuals to go along.

[@KyleRobots]

It kind of tracks that the French would knock this out of the park. It's a much shorter Les Miserables, or the Jean Valjean parts at least. Then we get to do a sad ending! France loves doing those!

[@nvm9040]

Definitely a short film which can stand out from the norm in the twilight zone but it’s a interesting one that I can see why Rod picked it

[@jenniferschillig3768]

Ronald Howard, who played Peyton in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents adaptation, was the son of Leslie Howard, who was famous for playing a different Confederate--Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind. (I first saw Ronald in a 1950s Sherlock Holmes series that re-ran on PBS not long after I started getting into Holmes as a teenager. I remember thinking that he looked like Ashley Wilkes with brown hair, and thought, "Wait a minute...his last name's Howard..." Sure enough, I found out he was Leslie's son!)

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

And the Union soldier in disguise is James Coburn, "French" of "The Old Man In The Cave," so that's another TWILIGHT ZONE connection.

[@random22026]

KNEW IT! Uncanny resemblance

[@kali3665]

This was actually a cost-saving move to conclude the fifth season, but the episode definitely fits in the canon. It may not be a Serling adaptation, but it might as well have been. With little dialogue, it calls attention to the soundtrack, which is very interesting. "A Livin' Man" is a wonderful little ditty heard throughout. And this technically gives Twilight Zone another first: the short would eventually win an Oscar. I only saw this episode when it showed up on DVD, and I thought it was extraordinary. I would love to see the original French version someday.

[@johnhein2539]

The original story, published in the 1800s describes the whistling sound of bullets through water. I deduced without research that the author had either fought or knew and interviewed veterans. As in a world without Internet or movies one would be unlikely to just think of that kind of detail.

[@darkman060]

I’d also recommend the Suspense radio play of this story that has Vincent Price as the lead. It’s on KZbin and it’s a great listen

[@renezescribe1229]

The circumstance by which this film became an episode of Twilight Zone is both fascinating and typical of 1960s limited budget TV series. Luckily, it was a success as the film was touching on themes relevant to the Twilight Zone. It would be interesting to scour around the internet to find other movies, short or long, who would also qualify as Twilight Zone episodes. Personally, I have come across a few films of that nature who would fit the bill for Outer Limits episodes. Maybe other commenters could have suggestions for you to explore this avenue...

[@ianr.navahuber2195]

4:03 In terms of production, this episode is the last episode of The Twilight Zone

[@kimjames6028]

Now I gotta track this down to watch!

[@Myself-yf5do]

Now that you've done Disneycember, Dreamworksuary, Bat May, and this, you should do Nickuly/Aprilodeon.

[@HarvestStore]

Great video.

[@thecinematicmind]

Cinema and Television History

[@alecwilliams7111]

I remember seeing this French version of the tale when first broadcast. It's a fine piece of work, but it is not the first version. That was on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS. The original story was by Ambrose Bierce, an embittered Civil War veteran who wrote some of the best weird tales to come out of 19th century America. Among Bierce's best tales are "The Damned Thing" and "The Horseman in the Sky." He's still a good read. Gregory Peck portrayed him in the film version of OLD GRINGO.

[@ChrisTalkz]

The short film episode! Next time Queen Of The Nile!

[@bruceeng3376]

Jacob's Ladder.

[@marianparoo1544]

Fine story, but give me the original

[@TramiNguyen-oi3kp]

Awesome The Twilight Zone episode!

[@XM394-xxx]

Everyone should listen to Geoff Castellucci narration of this

[@shenloken2]

This was a short story we had to read and write a report on in Literature class. But they never showed or mentioned to us that it was a short film adapted into a Twilight Zone episode!

[@guilhemdejef]

La riviéré dou ibou ! (J’ai ris et c’était une belle prononciation)

[@PhoenixRose-j4d]

I waited years for this review

[@CHRISMED2]

Jacobs ladder, carnival of souls

[@ChrisOnStage2]

I was jaded when I saw this episode. After seeing SO many ZONE'S and knowing there was going to be a twist, I already KNEW & anticipated the conclusion when he was hung! So when the 'big reveal' came, it was anti-climatic for me; I already figured it out. :(

[@mrodriguez16ks]

In 6th grade we were supposed to read the story. but my teacher thought we were too dumb to understand it so she had us watch the episode instead and just explained what it was.

[@bombkirby]

We watched this in Middle School English class

[@RakoonCD]

Me when I occur at owl creek and I bridge:

[@williamcrowe2576]

I think I was once shown this short film in my English Literature class. Can't remember if it was middle school or high school.

[@favillionbellarion9655]

Ngl, i never read the short story or even was aware of it, until i saw a machina by Nixxom that did a homage to this.

[@everfreebrumby8385]

I swear I remember seeing a similar plot in, I think ‘Tales From The Crypt’. About a woman who imagines escaping from her attacker & living a life. Only to reveal she was shot.

[@Giancala]

Film Class 101

[@waverly2468]

Uma Thurmon made a movie "The Life Before her Eyes" with a similar twist in 2007 involving a school shooting .

[@racheljackson4428]

I need to get the Tz companion book.

[@tremorsfan]

There was an episode of HBO's Carnivale modeled on this story.

[@cainster]

I was wondering where I might have heard of this title somehow, and then went: "Oh yea. That one American Dad episode title."

[@louisduarte8763]

8:02 There's an idea to replace Twilight-tober Zone. Talkin' about Hitchcock! Or Outer Limits, or Tales from the Crypt.

[@SpenserHarris-x8o]

Walter could you do night gallery someday?

[@antonmassopust568]

This is a great episode and it can introduce people to this form of Storytelling a lot of times in college this was one of the stories that we appear in a book most people probably I would say that if you ever watch the Twilight Zone and they would probably either think that it was the outer limits or Tales from the Crypt or something else and I would have to tell them no know the Twilight Zone you know Rod Serling it was made in the 50s and 60s black and white oh that yes I see that on late night TV

[@cainster]

At 5:20 this is similar to Jim Henson's short experimental film "Timepiece." I wonder how or when Jim saw this production.

[@copfrown2397]

Phantom opera, looking episode