Back from Eternity (1956)

[7]

When a small plane goes down in a South American jungle, the passengers and pilots must work together to repair the vehicle and get it back in the air before native headhunters attack. Back from Eternity is a remake of 1939’s Five Came Back, both films directed by John Farrow. The cast this time around includes Anita Ekberg (La Dolce Vita), Robert Ryan (The Wild Bunch), Rod Steiger (In the Heat of the Night), Beulah Bondi (Make Way for Tomorrow), and young Jon Provost (TV’s Lassie).

The screenplay spends act one introducing all the characters before their flight departs. I found myself wishing they would just hurry up and get on the plane already. We could have gotten to know them in flight and in the jungle just as well as at boring airports and restaurants. But once the plane flies into a dangerous storm at the half-hour mark, Back from Eternity becomes an enjoyable adventure/drama. I dug the jungle sets and the rising tension of native war drums heard in the distance. (Once the drums stop, the attack begins!) I also appreciated the moral dilemma imposed upon the characters just as the pane has been repaired. The plane’s engines are too weak to carry them all — three must stay behind and perish. The decision leads to moments of tension, poignancy, and surprise in the film’s climax and finale.

The cast all have little moments to shine during the jungle portion of the movie. The real stand-out, however, is Rod Steiger, who delivers a beautifully naturalistic and understated performance, channeling a little Marlon Brando at times. His character is charged with murder, awaiting sentencing at their destination. But he’s not written as a villain. He actually becomes a trusted friend to the flight’s elderly couple, played by Beulah Bondi and Cameron Prud’Homme. And for the rest of the crew, he administers some much needed ‘tough love’ at times.

With Phyllis Kirk, Keith Andes, and a score by Franz Waxman.