Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb TIFF Portrait StudioHispanic Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

Original title: La rivière du hibou
  • 1961
  • Not Rated
  • 28m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1961)
AdventureDramaFantasyShortThrillerWarWestern

In 1862, during the American Civil War, a Southern civilian is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage a railway bridge. When the execution takes place from the bridge, the rope breaks... Read allIn 1862, during the American Civil War, a Southern civilian is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage a railway bridge. When the execution takes place from the bridge, the rope breaks and he begins his escape toward home.In 1862, during the American Civil War, a Southern civilian is about to be hanged for attempting to sabotage a railway bridge. When the execution takes place from the bridge, the rope breaks and he begins his escape toward home.

  • Director
    • Robert Enrico
  • Writers
    • Ambrose Bierce
    • Robert Enrico
  • Stars
    • Roger Jacquet
    • Anne Cornaly
    • Anker-Spang Larsen
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    4.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Enrico
    • Writers
      • Ambrose Bierce
      • Robert Enrico
    • Stars
      • Roger Jacquet
      • Anne Cornaly
      • Anker-Spang Larsen
    • 68User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 3 wins total

    Photos4

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast7

    Edit
    Roger Jacquet
    Roger Jacquet
    • Peyton Farquhar
    Anne Cornaly
    • Mrs. Farquhar
    Anker-Spang Larsen
    • Union Officer
    • (as Anker Larsen)
    Stéphane Fey
    • Union Officer
    Jean-François Zeller
    • Union Sergeant
    Pierre Danny
    • Union Soldier
    Louis Adelin
    • Union Soldier
    • Director
      • Robert Enrico
    • Writers
      • Ambrose Bierce
      • Robert Enrico
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews68

    8.14.4K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10moochypoochy

    Haunting

    This film is chilling, yet absolutely wonderful. One cannot help but to have sympathy for the convicted man. The beauty of nature is displayed quite perfectly in his cute musical number; the sunlight plays wonders with the camera despite the film being in black and white. There is hardly any dialogue to clutter up the message, only one man's struggle to live. The ending is amazing and will leave the viewer's jaw agape. This film is even better than the original short story. Recommended viewing for anyone who craves a short movie that is long on depth.
    thecarczar

    Incredible Movie

    I first saw this film on The Twilight Zone when I was only about eleven.It was unforgettable.I believe it was a winner at the Cann Film Festival also.Just recently bought it and shown it to many friends.They all loved it.
    kenneth111

    One of the great shorts of all time

    Rod Serling brought this to American attention as a part of the Twilight Zone series and I have to agree with his departure from the popular series. A great story, intimately told. It points out the beauty of life and how it is magnified when death threatens. I think it is as good or even better than any Zone episode both in style and depth.
    HarpMN

    Excellent film of one of the greatest short stories ever

    I am a high school English teacher, and this film is absolutely perfect for classroom use. At just over 20 minutes, it is exactly the right length to show in an 11th grade class - it holds the students' attention and is short enough to keep them from getting bored. It is also an extremely faithful representation of the story, which helps students visualize and reinforce what they have read. To the teacher who posted earlier, who had to keep warning his students about "being bored for 20 minutes," I'd suggest that he's established a self-fulfilling prophecy: if you think it's boring, and you tell them it's boring, don't be surprised if they act bored.

    Beyond the classroom applications, this film is just plain good and will prove a real treat for all lovers of film and/or The Twilight Zone.
    10wjreagin

    A classic film from a classic writer.

    The original writer of the story was a civil war reporter. He covered many such events as outlined in the film. I like this film for many reasons. First, it is a black and white film to capture the feeling of the story. Next, the story was very realistic for the time in which the story takes place. Also, there are very few spoken lines. Finally, the twist at the end is worth the wait. I am not going to spoil the ending, but please be patient to the end. I promise that you will not be disappointed. When I was in college my class studied this film for all of the above points. It is short, only about 30 minutes, but the time is not wasted. It is a moving piece and I recommend it to anyone!

    More like this

    The Terror of Batignolles
    6.3
    The Terror of Batignolles
    An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
    7.6
    An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
    The Pitiful
    6.9
    The Pitiful
    Powers of Ten
    8.0
    Powers of Ten
    An Extraordinary Person
    7.3
    An Extraordinary Person
    Aya Goes to the Beach
    7.2
    Aya Goes to the Beach
    Au coeur de la vie
    8.2
    Au coeur de la vie
    The Joker
    6.3
    The Joker
    Le 15 mai
    5.8
    Le 15 mai
    Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB
    6.2
    Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB
    The Staircase
    6.5
    The Staircase
    Give Her the Moon
    5.9
    Give Her the Moon

    Related interests

    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Benedict Cumberbatch in The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
    Short
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller
    Band of Brothers (2001)
    War
    John Wayne and Harry Carey Jr. in The Searchers (1956)
    Western

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Originally a French filmed short. Appeared at Cannes and shown on The Twilight Zone (1959) (An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1964)), the first time the show aired a production filmed by someone else.
    • Goofs
      The snippets of English dialogue are all spoken with French accents even though these are supposed to be Americans. Not a goof: Although this story is performed by French actors, French people emigrated to the United States prior to the American Civil War and settled in Louisiana.
    • Alternate versions
      Reedited for broadcast as one of the final episodes of the television series, The Twilight Zone (1959). The episode is: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1964). Customary narration by Rod Serling was added for the broadcast.
    • Connections
      Edited into Au coeur de la vie (1963)
    • Soundtracks
      A Livin' Man
      (uncredited)

      Written and performed by Kenny Clarke

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 1961 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
    • Production companies
      • Filmartic
      • Les Films du Centaure
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 28m
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.