FAQ

Despondent over the injury to his hands while soldiering during World War II, concert pianist Henry Bergner (Paul Henreid) decides to commit suicide by gas asphyxiation. When his loving wife Ann (Eleanor Parker) refuses to leave his side, they both die together but awaken on a strange ship with seven other passengers -- the Reverend William Duke (Dennis King), newspaperman Tom Prior (John Garfield), elderly Mrs Midget (Sara Allgood), wealthy businessman Mr Lingley (George Coulouris) of Lingley Ltd, American soldier and new father Pete Musick (George Tobias), actress Maxine Russell (Faye Emerson), and high society couple Benjamin Cliveden-Banks (Gilbert Emery) and his wife Genevieve (Isobel Elsom) -- none of whom know that they, too, are dead and that the ship is carrying them all to the afterlife. First, however, they must meet with The Examiner (Sydney Greenstreet).

Between Two Worlds is based on a 1923 play, Outward Bound, by British playwright Sutton Vane. The play was first made into a 1930 movie, also titled Outward Bound (1930), before being adapted by American screenwriter Daniel Fuchs for Between Two Worlds.

One by one, the Examiner interviewers each of them. The Reverend is assigned to meet and mingle with those who have gone before and are still to come. Lingley is simply escorted to 'the launch', unable to buy his way out of his fate. Mrs Cliveden-Banks is sent to live alone in a splendid castle, but never to be able to show it off to anyone. Mr Cliveden-Banks is reunited with his old chums from Capetown. Maxine is sent away with the hope of getting back to when she was a little girl in her 'nice, white middy blouse' jumping rope in the schoolyard. Mrs Midget is given a cottage with a little garden by the sea, but she gives it up to become housekeeper for the shiftless Tom, who turns out to be the son she sent away for a better life in America when he was a boy and never got to see him growing up. Pete is sent to await the arrival of Connie and the baby.

Henry is informed that, as a suicide, he is to become a steward like Scrubby (Edmund Gwenn) on another ship, his penalty for taking his life. Ann is to go with the Examiner to her just reward. When Ann refuses to leave Henry, however, the Examiner leaves her behind. Henry suddenly begins to hear the sound of breaking glass and wanders off alone. Scrubby convinces Ann to go after him but, when she does, Henry has disappeared. Scrubby explains that he's been sent back to live again. In the final scene, Henry and Ann both awaken alive in their apartment. The window has been broken in the air raid, letting in fresh air. Henry kisses Ann and assures her that they both have much to live for.