Ambrose Bierce Movies
- 2006
- Add Masters of Horror: The Damned Thing to QueueAdd Masters of Horror: The Damned Thing to top of Queue
A small Texas town is terrorized by an unidentified monstrous force in this installment of Showtime's Masters of Horror series adapted from an Ambrose Bierce story by writer Richard Christian Matheson, and directed by Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Sheriff Kevin Reddle (Sean Patrick Flanery) may have had a tragic past, but these days he's just looking to find a little peace by starting a family in a quiet Texas town. Any hope for restfulness is soon obliterated, however, when a terrifying entity begins turning brother against brother and parent against child, and an apocalyptic fight for the survival of the human race gets off to a gruesome start. Ted Raimi and Marisa Coughlan co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sean Patrick Flanery, Marisa Coughlan, (more)
- 1990
This film first debuted as an episode of the television anthology Shelley Duvall's Nightmare Classics. Based on a story by Ambrose Bierce, it tells of how the spirit of a wild panther continually plagues a young woman (Daphne Zuniga). ~ Brian Gusse, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Three Hungarians find themselves in the American West during the Civil War era, and they discuss love and surveying technology. This film, said have been inspired by a story by Ambrose Bierce, has deliberately been distressed, to give it an authentically "old" flavor. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- György Cserhalmi, Andras Fekete, (more)
- 1975
Which will be victorious; commonsense which seems sound during the day or the unsettling effects of the night? This story is adapted from an Ambrose Bierce tale. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1974
Produced for public television, Parker Adderson, Philosopher was based on a short story by Ambrose Bierce. Harris Yulin plays Parker Addison, a Yankee spy who falls into the hands of the Rebel troops. Doomed to die at sunrise, the silver-tongued Adderson puts up a brave front for his raggedy captors. This being an Ambrose Bierce story, however, don't expect the expected--and don't expect human nature to be displayed in a sympathetic light. Taped in Canada in 1974, Parker Addison, Philosopher is introduced in the videocassette version by Henry Fonda. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
- Add An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge to QueueAdd An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge to top of Queue
Ambrose Bierce's classic hallucinatory short story An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge has been adapted to film at least three times. The first version was a 1932 short subject directed by Charles Vidor; the second was a two-part 1959 installment of TV's Alfred Hitchcock Presents; and the third was this award-winning French short, adapted and directed by Robert Enrico. The time is the American Civil War: Southern plantation-owner Peyton Farquahr (Roger Jacquet) has been condemned to death for spying against the Union cause. As he prepares to be hanged from the Owl Creek bridge, Farquahr morosely contemplates his fate and fondly recalls his loving wife (Anne Cornaly). The commanding officer gives the signal, Farquahr is dropped off the side of the bridge -- and suddenly the rope breaks. Farquahr breaks loose of his bonds, remains submerged in the creek as the soldiers' bullets whiz all about him, breathlessly reaches dry land, and painstakingly makes his way home to the arms of his wife. As he rushes towards her and.......ah -- to say more would be to ruin the surprise. The music by Henri Lanoe includes an original ballad, "Live Livin' Man", sung spiritual-style in English. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge made its American TV premiere as the February 28, 1964 installment of the anthology series The Twilight Zone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1962
Robert Enrico directed and wrote the screenplay for this American Civil War trilogy taken from the stories of Ambrose Bierce. In "Chickamauga," a young deaf-mute witnesses the bloody battle and carnage as a surrealistic dream. "The Mockingbird" and "Incident At Owl Creek" are also done in a style heavy on symbolic realism and vivid imagery. Frenchman Enrico has done his homework to accurately and believably portray the settings and stories of the Civil War. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stephane Fey
- 1959
Based on a classic exercise in existentialism by Ambrose Bierce, this episode is set during the Civil War. Condemned to death for his anti-Union sabotage activities, Southern gentleman Peyton Farquhar (Ronald Howard) is sentenced to be hanged from Owl Creek Bridge. Just as he plunges off the bridge, the noose miraculously breaks, and Farquhar is able to make a dash for freedom. While escaping his captors, Farquhar journeys through some mighty strange country, and meets some mighty strange people -- including his former slave Josh (Juano Hernandez), who is supposed to be dead. Fans of "fantastic" television will recall that a 1962 theatrical short-subject version of An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, filmed in France by director Robert Enrico, was adapted as a 1964 episode of The Twilight Zone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
