MovieChat Forums > Jacob's Ladder (1990) Discussion > a short story

a short story

posted 11 years ago by jfemaleder
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Like most movies, the stories came first. I don't know if it was used as a direct reference, but check out Ambrose Bierce's short story "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". It is essentially Jacob's Ladder minus the Angels vs. Demons. The entire span of the movie happens over the course of a few brief moments, just as the story does.

I don't write this slam the movie, I loved it, but just to show how some stories, pushing 100 years old, are still alive in well in other representations.

Also, if you love the movie Predator (1987), read Bierce's "The Damned Thing". Aside from taking a trophy, the movie mirrors the story line.

[–] pullman1881 10 years ago

I remember reading something like "there are only 3 (or 4 or 5) stories you can write. There's Love, Revenge, Betrayal, Sacrifice...whatever - you get my drift. I read "Owl Creek Bridge" in HS a million years ago, and you're absolutely right. I guess everything becomes derivative once you get past Shakespeare.