An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

[scotty]

I'm trying to sort out the status of Robert Enrico's short film An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge on DVD. There does not appear to be a French version, although it was a French production. Amazon.com lists a DVD from Monterey Video, but the customer comments are even more useless than usual. There seems to be confusion over whether this is the Twilight Zone version or not (apparently some people want to hold its independent status against it, as if the Twilight Zone version was definitive).

The film is beautifully done and works very well in both film and literature classrooms. Has anyone seen the Monterey DVD?

[Gordon]

The Monterey Video DVD is basically a VHS-sourced transfer of the Twilight Zone 'episode', but with the Serling introduction and credits edited out. A very dubious 'product'.

Interestingly enough, it aired as the last episdoe of season 5 of Twilight Zone and the new, remastered season 5 boxed set is out in a few months. Will Owl Creek be remastered and included? The original version ought to be included, too.

The episode was available in The Treasures of the Twilight Zone DVD.

I hope that this was of help, Scotty.

[Kinsayder]

The original French film from which "Owl Creek" was extracted is currently available in a Japanese edition:

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=DXDS-27

The listing is a bit muddled (they've got the title wrong and they've mixed up Stéphane Fey with Sami Frey), but this is indeed Robert Enrico's magical "Au coeur de la vie", in a very fine transfer. The minimal dialogue is in English with burnt-in French subtitles. There is also an occasional French voice-over which is not subtitled. The Japanese subs are removable.

[Gordon]

Hmm, very interesting. $35 is pretty steep, though.

[Kinsayder]

Warner France have just published four Robert Enricos, including the film with the Rivière du hibou (Owl Creek) segment:

La Rivière du hibou
Les Caïds
Les Aventuriers
Tante Zita

No Le Secret, sadly, and no Le Vieux fusil - the latter seems to be only available in a dubbed German version.

[Person]

Well-spotted, sir! I'd like to get confirmation of the subtitle specs for Les Aventuriers, as I have been waiting for years to see it.

[Jonathan S]

Can anyone confirm please that the Warner France release is the complete three-part film Au coeur da la vie as indicated by the artwork? If so, why does Amazon list it as only 28 minutes? Is there an alternative French release with only the "Owl Creek" segment I might be sent in error (especially as I intend to buy from a Markeplace seller, albeit new)?

By the way, is the dialogue in English and/or minimal in all three stories? Thanks.

[Steven H]

Well-spotted, sir! I'd like to get confirmation of the subtitle specs for Les Aventuriers, as I have been waiting for years to see it.

French subs only on that one. I have the disc though. It's one of my favorites.

[Tom Peeping]

Can anyone confirm please that the Warner France release is the complete three-part film Au coeur da la vie as indicated by the artwork? If so, why does Amazon list it as only 28 minutes? Is there an alternative French release with only the "Owl Creek" segment I might be sent in error (especially as I intend to buy from a Markeplace seller, albeit new)?

By the way, is the dialogue in English and/or minimal in all three stories? Thanks.

Yes, the Warner France DVD is the complete 3-part film "Au coeur de la vie". The total lenght is 98 minutes, not 28. There is no alternative French release, so you'll get what you buy. And yes, the dialogue is in English and very minimal, if any. It's a very good DVD for a great film.

[Jonathan S]

Many thanks, TP!