Back from Eternity is a 1956 drama film about a planeload of people stranded in the South American jungle, menaced by headhunters. It is a remake of an earlier film also directed and produced by John Farrow, Five Came Back.
Cast
Plot
The plane is bound for bound for Boca Grande, somewhere in South America, making a pick-up stop in Central America.
Passengers: Jud Ellis accompanies fiancé Louise Melhorn; repentant political assassin Vasquel is being transported back to the proper authorities by detective Crimp; mobman Pete Bostwick accompanies little boy, Tommy, father of which may have been murdered by Bostwick himself; elderly couple Professor. and Mrs. Springer are apparently on vacation; and jilted blonde bombshell Rena, on her way to a South American casino, vies for Ellis' attention.
After the final takeoff, the plane flies (at 10,500-feet) through a rough storm and is dangerously jostled about. A portable gas tank is loosened from its mooring, which then blows out one of the fuselage doors, killing one of the flight attendants as she is thrown out.
The crew is then forced to make an emergency landing in the jungle, aircraft intact. Crimp tries to take charge of the group, but is quickly prevented from doing so by the captain.
Momentarily, Ellis becomes psychologically unhinged, and tries to force himself upon Louise, but co-pilot Brooks steps in to dissuade him.
Late at night, Crimp renders Bostwick temporarily unconscious, steals the guns he was guarding, then flees into the jungle.
Later, the aircraft is repaired, but soon after searching and finding an errant Tommy, Bostwick and Rena discover Crimp’s headless body. Soon, local head hunters shoot Bostwick dead by poison dart.
The crew and passengers decide the best escape strategy; since there is only one good engine to help the plane fly over the mountains, the human cargo will have to be exceptionally light, so some will have to stay behind. With gun in hand, Vasquel forcibly takes charge of the matter, and chooses those that will be able to return to civilization; Ellis tries to stop him and is shot dead.
Vasquel and the elderly Springer couple are left behind. With only two bullets left in Vasquel’s gun, he mercifully shoots the Springer couple and prays for forgiveness.
Trivia
- The supposed New York airport control tower shown near the beginning of the film is actually that of Bob Hope Airport, California.
- After a temporary stop in Panama, Professor Springer wishes to order “arroz con pollo” at a local restaurant. His wife prevents him from ordering such a (seemingly) exotic dish not “meant for human consumption;” the dish is merely Spanish for chicken and rice.
- Barbara Eden made her screen debut in this film, in a minor, uncredited role as a photo-journalist.
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