A Douglas DC-2, from a tiny South American airline, is piloted by Captain Bill Lonagan and co-pilot Joe Brooks, bound for Boca Grande.

The passengers are: Jud Ellis, a man of privilege escorting his new fiancée Louise Melhorn; repentant political assassin Vasquel, being transported back to the proper authorities by bounty hunter Crimp; mobster Pete Bostwick, accompanying the son of his boss, Tommy; elderly Professor Spangler, accompanied on a research trip by his wife of 42 years; and prostitute Rena, on her way to work a South American casino.

He also taunts Crimp, who reads aloud a newspaper article detailing the murder of Tommy's father before Bostwick stops him and tries to distract the boy.

They form a connection, understanding each other's lot in life; he was a highly regarded pilot on major airlines until turning to drink after his wife died, while she is a post-war displaced person unable to get a passport, taken advantage of by men who pushed her into her profession.

Jealous of Rena, Louise confronts her and the two women, assigned clothes washing duties by Lonagan, have "... a knock-down and drag-out fight" in a nearby stream.

Marshman was reportedly going to incorporate a recent incident in Rio de Janeiro where a cable car broke down and left people marooned up in the air.

[7] The fight scene between Kirk and Ekberg required the creation of a stream on the movie's sound set, equipped with running water and foam rubber rocks to avoid injury to the two actresses and seven takes before final filming.

Despite its earlier notable screen heritage, Back from Eternity did not have a positive review from film critic Bosley Crowther at The New York Times.

He said, in part, " ... the plight of a group of people downed in the South American wilds when the airliner in which they are traveling is forced to crash land by a violent thunderstorm ...