The Huge Image
- The episode “An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge” gained an Oscar earlier than changing into a part of
The Twilight Zone,
qualifying as a result of it was initially created as a brief movie. - CBS purchased the brief movie to cut back manufacturing prices and assist fill the present’s last season.
- The unsettling nature of the movie and its twist ending seamlessly match into
The Twilight Zone
‘s type and storytelling.
Tv is a medium that has at all times sought to problem leisure. Since its technological daybreak, viewers have loved quite a lot of game-changing packages and genres. From I Love Lucy’s historic run to Cheyenne’s revolutionary debut, the format has repeatedly advanced since its inception. Among the many historical past makers is Rod Sterling’s The Twilight Zone. Every week, the present featured a brand new and creative storyline delivered to life by a formidable ensemble of names. On the time, viewers hadn’t seen something prefer it, and it continues to inspire media to this very day.
Over the course of its five-season run, the present produced 156 episodes. A few of TV’s most iconic characters and storylines got here from these episodes, as did Emmy Awards, Golden Globes… and, technically, an Oscar! The Season 5 episode “An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge” boasts the distinguished award. Nevertheless, it wasn’t as a result of the episode was so excellent it modified the principles of nomination. It had a life earlier than changing into a part of Twilight Zone and joined the sequence’ legacy because of probably the most Hollywood motive attainable.
The Twilight Zone (1959)
Bizarre folks discover themselves in terribly astounding conditions, which they every attempt to remedy in a outstanding method.
- Launch Date
- October 2, 1959
- Creator
- Rod Serling
- Solid
- Rod Serling , Jack Klugman , Burgess Meredith , John Anderson
- Principal Style
- Sci-Fi
- Seasons
- 5
‘An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge’ was a Prestigious Brief Movie Earlier than ‘The Twilight Zone’
Based mostly on the 1890 brief story of the identical title, An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge was initially a 1961 French brief movie and a particularly eerie one at that. Set in 1862 America, it follows Peyton Farquhar (Roger Jacquet), a civilian set to be hanged off of Owl Creek Bridge by Union troopers. As an alternative of dying, his noose breaks, and he escapes by swimming up the river. He faces rapids and quite a few different pure trials earlier than returning house to his spouse, Abby (Anne Cornaly). It seems to be a contented reunion, however as he and Abby are about to embrace, Peyton returns to the hanging noose. His escape was nothing greater than an phantasm introduced on by the drop, a merciless trick simply earlier than his demise.
Associated
‘The Twilight Zone’ Had a Strict Set of Rules for Every Episode
And no, the primary rule was not “You do not discuss The Twilight Zone”!
According to Oscars.org, it was nominated for Finest Brief Topic (Dwell Motion) on the thirty sixth Annual Academy Awards, alongside The Live performance, Residence-Made Automobile, Six-Sided Triangle, and That’s Me. However, An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge took house the prestigious award. Usually, this is able to be a triumphant strategy to finish an image’s run, however the brief had a complete new life awaiting it in The Twilight Zone.
CBS Purchased ‘An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge’ to Scale back the Price of ‘The Twilight Zone’
According to Yahoo Entertainment, CBS, the community that produced Serling’s seminal sequence, was trying to scale back the price of manufacturing. The present was in its fifth and last season and wanted to fill its episode order. Yahoo quotes the ebook The Twilight Zone Companion, the place sequence producer William Froug defined he recommended licensing the brief. Regardless of it being a French film, Froug stated: “It was nearly fully silent… There have been possibly a half-dozen strains in it, and there was one transient ballad –– in English, of all issues,” which might have made it a straightforward adjustment.
Nonetheless, CBS had their doubts. They had been skeptical about airing an award-winning French movie on tv. However, in true Hollywood vogue, Froug was in a position to persuade executives with financial incentives. “…we purchased all of the TV rights for $10,000,” Froug defined. “With that one airing, we instantly took care of the entire yr’s overage. It introduced us out on the finish of the yr underneath price range.” With the budget for the season coming in smaller than anticipated, it’s protected to say CBS was glad. Six weeks after the installment aired, it was awarded its Academy Award, technically making it the primary episode of a TV present to take action. However past monetary and award success, the episode is definitely a artistic peak for The Twilight Zone.
‘An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge’ Matches Proper In with ‘The Twilight Zone’ Type
From the primary shot, the movie feels prefer it was truly made for The Twilight Zone, regardless of initially having no connection to Sterling’s CBS hit. The unsettling nature of the image is current all through. The lethal state of affairs Peyton is in is obvious, and his miraculous escape looks like one thing fantastical earlier than constructing to the twist, which is a very common structure for the show. The film additionally has an unsettling sound design. There’s little dialogue in addition to a number of English phrases and a haunting tune that performs within the background. Even throughout Peyton’s visions, unsettling sound results assist construct the stress of his impending doom. Had the movie’s historical past not been so profitable, it might have simply been slipped into the season with out discover, because of the good filmmaking constructed into it.
Rod Sterling usually broke the fourth wall throughout his episode introductions, however he recorded a particular opening for the episode. The sequence sees Serling drop his typical ominous act to speak in regards to the distinctive presentation and the movie’s creative accomplishments. However his closing speech actually solidified the movie’s place within the ever-frightening realm of the present.
The Twilight Zone was certainly ahead of its time. The Rod Serling-created sequence modified TV ceaselessly and created a few of the most iconic tales within the medium’s historical past. However certainly one of its perfect episodes had nothing to do with the sequence initially. An Incidence at Owl Creek Bridge was a outstanding brief movie that not solely helped The Twilight Zone end robust however technically gained the sequence an Oscar. An thrilling story stuffed with intrigue and unsettling craftsmanship, this story appears as if it at all times belonged within the realm of The Twilight Zone.
The Twilight Zone is obtainable to stream on Paramount+ within the U.S.
