Product Description

Studio: Monterey Home Video Release Date: 08/10/2004 Run time: 25 minutes Rating: Nr

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50706 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-08-10
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 28 minutes

Customer Reviews

Not the Oscar-winning film!
This DVD (which I'm returning) contains a very poor, degraded copy of the Oscar-winning film, as editted, dubbed and re-titled for "The Twilight Zone." The lack of the ORIGINAL film (not repackaged for TZ), or any of the original credits makes me seriously question whether this is even an authorized release. Only the TZ-style onscreen credits remain. Very disappointing presentation of what is otherwise a beautiful film.

One of the finest adaptations of American Literature ever!
This French short film, which was nominated for and WON both the Cannes Film Festival Award and an Academy Award, brings Ambrose Bierce's short story to life in a powerful way. With very little dialogue, this film, while discarding Bierce's explanation of how Peyton Farquhar was captured and sentenced to hang as a spy (and which actually is not necessary, in my opinion), depends on the visual rather than the spoken and succeeds admirably! The film may last less than half an hour, but in that time the viewer is rivetted not only by Roger Jacquet's performance as the condemned man but also by the beautiful scenery, the tight editing and just the right pacing of the action (the music, especially the slow lovely ballad "A Livin' Man", sung in the style of the Old Southern spirituals, also sticks with the viewer). The twist ending (which is worthy of the best TWILIGHT ZONE episodes [which, by the way, this film was used for in the fifth and final season of that wonderful series]), made me actually catch my breath, more than when I actually read ths original story. I heartily recommend this film not just for literature-lovers and film buffs but also for anyone with a love of the unusual and mysterious.

A GREAT FILM THAT WILL REMAIN WITH YOU FOR A LIFETIME!
I am 36 years old. I read the book and saw the movie when I was in the 9th grade. I am ordering the book here on line and have not seen the movie since then. The fact that I remember this story so well after all of these years should be proof enough that it is truely a work of art. It served our class as the perfect forum for discussion, and a fine example of literary expertise. Though it is a very short work, it captures all of the power, suspense and drama of a feature length film. A GREAT STORY!