ferbs54 Featuring a raft of experienced Warner Brothers lead and character actors as well as one up-and-coming future starlet, 1944's "Between Two Worlds" reveals itself to be a pleasing supernatural fantasy, indeed, and one that should hold up very well for modern audiences, now almost 75 years since its release. The film was based on the 1923 play "Outward Bound" by British playwright Sutton Vane, which had been adapted to film once before, as an early-sound vehicle for Leslie Howard, under that original title, in 1930. I have not seen that first version--it does not seem to be screened very often--but can say that the remake is a most interesting offering, with many eerie touches and some wonderful thesping by one and all.In the film, a disparate group is shown about to board an ocean liner in London, bound for New York. But just as the group departs via auto to their ship, a German aerial bombing results in their vehicle bursting into flames. At the same time, we meet a young Austrian ex-soldier, who is attempting to leave the country via that same ship. He is played by Paul Henreid, and the fact that he is having a rough time obtaining his "exit permit" from a wartorn country forcibly brings to mind his similar quandary in the classic "Casablanca." When his permit is denied, he decides to commit suicide by turning on the gas line in his flat's apartment, only to be discovered by his wife (Eleanor Parker, looking very beautiful and offering up a wonderful performance in this, her 4th film, and at the onset of one of Hollywood's great careers). She decides to join him in death rather than be left alone without him, and before the two of them know what is happening, they find themselves on that selfsame ocean liner on which they had intended to depart. They soon realize the truth: They are dead, this is the afterlife, and their ship is bound for...is it heaven or hell? And the other folks that had been blasted out of existence are there also, but unaware of the truth. They consist of a cynical and wisecracking newspaper reporter (expertly portrayed by John Garfield, here almost at the midpoint of his career); a sailor who is returning home to his wife and kids (the great character actor George Tobias, who provides much of the film's humor); an aloof and domineering manufacturing exec (George Coulouris); a sweet English biddy spinster (Sara "The Spiral Staircase" Allgood); a down-on-her-luck actress (Faye Emerson); a reverend who has decided to go out into the world for the first time and do his best to help others (Dennis King); an unhappily married, mismatched couple (Isobel Elsom and Gilbert Emery); and Scrubby, the only crewman/porter on the entire ship (Edmund "Them!" Gwenn). We do get to know all these characters in some depth as the film proceeds, and are thus prepared when they are ultimately sentenced to their eternal fate by The Examiner, who comes on board late in the film (and played by the great Sydney Greenstreet)."Between Two Worlds" was directed by someone named Edward A. Blatt, a Russian ex-stage director who, it seems, only directed two other films after this one. But he does a nice job here, and incorporates some interesting touches (I love the hissing gas vent that segues into the ship's whistle) into his picture. The musical score for the film, by the great Erich Wolfgang Korngold, is not nearly as rousing and memorable as had been his contributions to such films as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Sea Hawk" (two of this viewer's all-time faves), but does still go far in engendering an otherworldly mood. The film has a literate and adult script, provided by Daniel Fuchs (who would go on to pen two great film noirs, "Criss Cross" and "Panic in the Streets"), and many of the characters get to deliver lines that carry great weight. My favorite comes from The Examiner himself, in speaking of the afterlife: "Death...people have all sorts of notions. It's really very simple. You make your heaven and hell for yourselves on Earth; you only bring it with you here. Some people waste it tragically; others toss it aside...." All the actors in the film get their moment to shine, but I would especially like to say a word about young Eleanor here. She is just luminous in this early role of hers, easily matching the talents of her more experienced costars although just 21 at the time. No wonder Warners put her on the fast track to stardom. And yet, it would take another 15 months for her to really break through...oddly enough, in another film costarring John Garfield, "Pride of the Marines." Her performance here was worth the price of admission alone for this viewer, although this is very much an ensemble work by that great cast of pros. This film comes highly recommended by yours truly. Consider it a bucket-list item that you should see before your own ship sets sail....

Hitchcoc I always have trouble with this religious mumbo-jumbo. A group of people, killed by a German bomber, find themselves on board an ocean liner, seemingly alive. Two of them did not meet that fate but rather killed themselves. Of course, they are all white and don't know they are dead. They are bitter, mean spirited people. But the young pianist and his wife know the score. They weren't with the others when the ax fell. They are insufferable as are most of the others. There is a ridiculous, stereotypical priest who wants this pack of bandits, to pass time by playing games and other assorted activities. Eventually, Sydney Greenstreet shows up as "the Examiner." He decides who gets to go to heaven and the other place. There is much negotiating. Ultimately, old Sydney rejects his company orders and makes special cases. The whole thing is preachy and the dialogue stilted. I always like John Garfield, but even his antics got to me. The ending cheats us all.

thejcowboy22 Our story begins in an inner city London Steamship office. Eight passengers all diverse, awaiting the call to embark on a voyage across the Atlantic bound for the U.S.A.. Our ninth member is a frantic, hopeful Henry Bergner (Paul Henreid) Ex-Austrian Resistance fighter and injured handed pianist feels useless to his wife and himself and wants to start his life over in America alone. Henry wants to sail to America and get away from war torn England but lacks an exit permit necessary for departure. Meanwhile his concerned Wife Ann (Eleanore Parker) is looking for her depressed husband and heads for the steamship office. A dejected Henry heads home to his London flat. As Ann approaches the office, air raid sirens go off as Nazi bombs land randomly on buildings. Ann witnesses the passengers leaving the steamship office as they pack into a transport vehicle and drive down the street. A falling bomb hits the car and kills everyone inside as Ann watches in horror. Ann dodges the carnage. With no where else to look, she heads back to her flat where she sees Henry as he turns on the gas from the stove in a suicide attempt. He persuades her to leave but it's to late as the two fall unconscious and awake aboard a deserted steamship. They realize his suicide attempt was cast. Henry and Ann are relieved that they will be together for eternity and Henry's injured hand is restored as he tickles the ivories on the ships piano as the other guests listen and comment on his accompaniment. Ann and Henry meet the kindly steward Scrubby (Edmund Gwenn) as Ann noticed the familiar eight passengers who were killed earlier from a falling bombs. Scrubby emphasizes not to inform the other passengers that they are deceased. The group should find out in time in their own way which makes for a more pleasant voyage. This makes the situation unbearable for Ann and Henry when they interact with the passengers. as the expired quests unsuspecting, tell about how exciting it will be to travel to the United States. As for our guests on this voyage to wherever? You have the timid effeminate Anglican Priest Reverend William Duke (Dennis King) who's goal in life is to meet all peoples of the world. Next the cynical metaphoric newspaperman Tom Prior (John Garfield) with his girl friend along side and wealth seeking actress Maxine Russell (Faye Emerson). Rugged Merchant Marine Pete Musick (George Tobias) eager to see his new born child for the first time with his good luck charm Ho-Ho-Kus in his pocket. Our difficult member of the group is the hyper-fastidious Mr. Lingley (George Coulouris) a self made millionaire who goes to extremes to hurt others for capital gain and is quick with the tipping to get what he wants. Next we have an elderly couple Genevieve and Bejamin Cliveden-Banks played by Isabel Elsom and Gilbert Emery. Mrs. Cliveden-Banks is a superficial social climber who married her husband for his wealth. Mr. Cliveden was taken in by her beauty many years earlier but gave up his free will to accommodate his narcissistic spouse. Finally we have Mrs Midget (Sara Algood) with a heart of gold and pure as the driven snow but we don't really know her intentions for traveling yet she is very much connected and fascinated by the actions of our wise cracking character Tom Prior. Prior over hears Ann and Henry talk about their dilemma. Prior is sort of relieved at this point but demonstrates to the others in a magic show form that the guest are all dead using a loaded pistol given to him by Mr. Lingley. How do our guests react to the news? What about their judgment by the unknown examiner who determines their final destinations? Some questions come to mind... I figured business was booming off the charts as it were with millions dead from World War II. I guess it would take away from the script and cast to have thousands of extras aboard the heavenly vessel. Sidney Greenstreet, The Examiner, caries himself with confidence against the petty Mrs. Cliveden -Banks and the self made man Lingley of Lingley limited. Brash and cynic John Garfield steals the scenes with his signature line, "Pick A Card, Pick A Card!" . The troupe plays well against each other in this unorthodox setting for judgment day. Nothing more comforting than Edmund Gwenn preparing you for the after life. Love those movies about the possibility of life after death. Fascinating film.

mrb1980 "Between Two Worlds" is a remake of "Outward Bound" (1930), about a group of people aboard a fog-shrouded and otherwise-empty ship, seemingly sailing to nowhere. Paul Henreid and Eleanor Parker are lovers, John Garfield is a brash reporter, George Coulouris is a pompous and wealthy English industrialist, Faye Emerson is a gold-digging party girl, and George Tobias is a modest sailor in the Merchant Marine. They are joined by a society couple, a matronly older woman, and a priest. Many of the people find themselves on the ship after their car was nearly bombed during a WWII air raid, while Parker and Henreid have just attempted suicide via gas in an apartment.The ship's steward is Scrubby (Edmund Gwenn), who quietly makes everyone feel at home. Parker and Henreid's characters discover that the ship's passengers are actually dead, and are awaiting judgment from a mysterious person called "The Examiner". All of the passengers soon find out the truth, and nervously await the arrival of The Examiner, who soon walks through the door—in the rotund, massive form of Sydney Greenstreet! Taking the deceased priest as a trainee, Greenstreet judges each person one by one, and sends them to their respective fates, depending on how honorably they had lived their lives. All are judged except Parker and Henreid, who find that because they committed suicide, they are doomed to sail on the ship forever. The movie ends with Parker searching the ship for Henreid, hearing the sound of breaking glass, and suddenly waking up with Henreid, both of them quite alive.This is quite a heavy message movie, and is kept interesting by the charisma of the cast. In particular, Garfield, Coulouris, Gwenn, Tobias, and Greenstreet turn in convincing and at times poignant performances. In contrast, Parker and Henreid just look frightened the whole time, begging to stay together, while Emerson is not given enough screen time. I really enjoy the movie as a glimpse at people who know they are dead and are about to be judged by the highest authority, with generally fine acting and an intelligent story. However, the contrived "happy" ending seems completely out of place, and I think it really ends the movie on a false note. Not classic 1940s Hollywood, but pretty good on its own terms.