In 1980 or 81 I was watching I believe Turner Broadcast or a Chicago based network on Cable TV. A Black and white movie with a beautiful dark haired actress and her love or Husband was on already in progress. It took place during the time of air bombing in Europe (30's-40's). The Guy was at some point a talented Pianist (I think). Something had happened to his nerves and he could not perform anymore. He was very distraught and wanted to leave the country and his wife I think because he was so upset and ashamed.

The woman comes home and discovers or finds a note saying that he is leaving. Trying to get a visa or something. She rushes to the office to try and stop him. At this time an air raid begins. Bombs dropping, sirens going off. As she arrives at the office she is lead to believe he has already left when in fact he could not get a visa or whatever to leave. She may have even thought he was in a car she saw leaving that was hit by a bomb (not sure) She returns home to find him there. He has turned the gas on in the oven and committed suicide. She does not want to live without him and decides to lay down and be with him in death.

Fade to them being on a ship. Confused, they are trying to figure out how they got on this ship. They meet a dozen or so other passengers and a crew member. The man eventually puts together that they are all dead but no one else realizes it. The captain of the ship had committed suicide himself and was destined to remain in limbo ferrying souls. Right when she discovers that her Man will not be going to heaven with her and she will not spend eternity with him, a bomb goes off and they are back in their home. The windows have been blown out and fresh air has come in enough so that they are revived. They have gotten a second chance and whatever had crippled him before did not matter. They were so happy to be alive.

I remember being just 19 at the time and thinking how beautiful she was and how in love with the guy she was. I don't know if this was the first movie to have the (didn't know they were dead thing) but it was done really well in the way the characters and me the viewer were lead to the discovery. Please if someone knows of this movie it would mean a great deal to me to know the name.

Here it is! I know what it's like to be haunted by a movie (or a song, play, poem, etc) that keeps coming back to you because you didn't have all the info when you first feel in love with it. I asked on Roger Ebert's FB page - figuring someone would know and sure enough was lead to this. The synopsis is from the Turner Broadcasting page.

Between Two Worlds

In 1944, in an English port, Henry Bergner, a Viennese pianist who joined the Free French Forces, begs a clerk for a place on board a ship leaving for the United States. When Henry's appeal is denied because he lacks an exit visa, he stumbles through the streets. A short time later, during an air raid, Henry's wife Ann searches for her husband in the street and witnesses a bomb strike a taxi carrying a group of passengers, including cynical reporter Tom Prior; Maxine Russell, a minor actress; snobbish Genevieve Cliveden-Banks and her mild-mannered husband Benjamin; Merchant Marine Pete Musick; housekeeper Mrs. Midget, Reverend William Duke, and Lingley, a powerful businessman. In despair because he has been psychologically damaged by the war and is is no longer able to work as a pianist, Henry decides to commit suicide. Ann arrives home in the midst of his preparations and, unwilling to live without her husband, insists on joining him in death. After inhaling gas fumes from the stove, they wake to find themselves wandering the corridors of a ship along with the taxi passengers who were killed during the bombing. Henry and Ann soon realize that everyone on board is dead, but Scrubby, the steward, asks them to keep this information to themselves. Later, the passengers gather in the lounge. When Lingley angrily berates Scrubby, Tom reveals that the industrialist had him fired after he wrote an exposé on him. After Tom leaves the room, Maxine confesses to Lingley that she is a failure as an actress. Meanwhile, Pete tells anyone who will listen that he is traveling home to his wife Connie and a baby whom he has never seen. Reverend Duke has realized that he has been too isolated from his congregation and plans to broaden his horizons with travel. On deck, Mrs. Midget tells Tom her dream of retiring to a cottage with a garden. Later, Tom overhears Ann and Henry conversing and learns that they are all dead. During an entertainment arranged by Pete and Duke, Tom puts on a magic show and ends by shooting Lingley with his own gun. As Lingley is already dead, he is unaffected by the shot, and thus the truth of their situation is revealed to the rest of the passengers. When Lingley tries to buy his way out, Scrubby announces that all will come before an examiner, the former Reverend Frank Thompson, a friend of Duke's. Thompson tells the contrite Duke that he will be given an opportunity to mingle with the people as he had hoped when he, too, becomes an examiner. Lingley is informed that his lack of human feelings has condemned him. Next Mrs. Cliveden-Banks is granted her wish for a castle, but is told that she will be alone for eternity. Her long-suffering husband, on the other hand, will rejoin friends from his Cape Town youth. A demurely dressed Maxine kisses Tom goodbye and leaves with Lingley. Tom is told that in the future, he will be forced to see himself as he is. Even though Mrs Midget is told that a cottage with a garden is waiting for her, she offers to join Tom. Thompson informs Duke that Mrs. Midget is Tom's mother, who gave up her child as a baby and will now be with him for eternity. Pete protests that his death is unfair, but Thompson soothes him with the information that he will rejoin his wife and child after their deaths. Henry is told that as a suicide, he is condemned to act as a steward to the newly dead just as Scrubby does, but that Ann, who acted out of love, may join Thompson. Ann, however, refuses to leave Henry. Impressed by Ann's love, Scrubby speaks on behalf of the couple, and a short while later, they awake in their room. The couple discovers that air coming through a window broken during a bombing raid has dissipated the gas, and, having learned there is still much to live for, they are returned to life.

Meaningoflife you are amazing! I have posted that question several times over the years with no response. Thank you so much!!

You're welcome. I hope you have a great time watching it again. It intrigues me... 'maybe I will get around to watching it myself.