I've Lived Before

I've Lived Before is a 1956 American fantasy drama film directed by Richard Bartlett and starring Jock Mahoney, Leigh Snowden, Ann Harding, John McIntire, and Raymond Bailey. The film was released by Universal-International Pictures in September 1956.^[1][2][3]

I've Lived Before
Film poster by Reynold Brown
Directed by	Richard Bartlett
Written by	Norman Jolley William Talman
Produced by	Howard Christie
Starring	Jock Mahoney Leigh Snowden Ann Harding John McIntire Raymond Bailey
Cinematography	Maury Gertsman
Edited by	Milton Carruth Fred MacDowell
Music by	Herman Stein
Production company	Universal-International
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	September 1956 (1956-09)
Running time	82 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

In 1948, John Bolan, a 30-year-old successful experienced pilot for Federal Airways, is about to make a landing at a New York airport. As he and his 28 passengers glide easily toward the runway, Bolan suddenly experiences visions of participating in an aerial dogfight over World War I France, 30 years earlier. He then undergoes the vivid, painful sensation of being machine-gunned. He reacts by snapping his SPAD biplane into a quick dive. Bolan, thus, is no longer conscious of the fact that he is a commercial airline pilot coming in for a landing. Nor is he aware that his actions have spread terror among his passengers. His co-pilot, Russell, must administer a knock-out blow to Bolan in order to take over the aircraft's controls and land the plane safely. Miraculously, no one is injured except Bolan, who is transferred to a city hospital.

As Bolan regains consciousness, Dr. Bryant tests his patient by asking his name. Bolan responds, "Lt. Peter Stevens." Apparently, Bolan is still back in World War I France. It isn't until later that Bolan finally snaps out of it and returns to the here and now. Bolan then learns he has been temporarily grounded pending an investigation. Bolan, however, is obsessed with his alternate identity. He wants to know all he can about Peter Stevens. Is he real? Did he exist? Did he fly over the skies of war-torn France? Did he survive? Is he still alive? Or dead? His only lead is a middle-aged woman, Jane Stone, who coincidenally was a passenger on that same plane that Bolan almost piloted into destruction. There's just one problem though. Jane, who claims to have been engaged to marry a pilot named Peter Stevens in 1917, refuses to cooperate in answering any of Bolan's questions. It takes a meeting with Bolan's fiancee, Lois, and an interview moderated by Dr. Bryant that Bolan finally succeeds in getting the answers from Jane that he seeks.

Cast

• Jock Mahoney as John Bolan / Lt. Peter Stevens
• Leigh Snowden as Lois Gordon
• Ann Harding as Mrs. Jane Stone
• John McIntire as Dr. Thomas Bryant
• Raymond Bailey as Joseph Hackett, Federal Airways
• Jerry Paris as Russell Smith, Copilot
• Simon Scott as Robert Allen, Attorney
• April Kent as Grace Hoydt, Stewardess
• Vernon Rich as Dave Anderson Federal's Lawyer
• Phil Harvey as Dr. Miller
• Brad Morrow as Johnny Bolan (12 years old)
• Beatrice Gray as Spectator (uncredited)
• James Seay as Fred Bolan (uncredited)
• Marjorie Stapp as Spectator (uncredited)
• Lorna Thayer as Mrs. Fred Bolan (uncredited)
• Madelon Mitchel as Daisy, Mrs. Stone's maid (uncredited)^[4]