| Director | Henry King |
|---|---|
| Budget | $3.3 million |
| Box office | $3.8 million |
From heaven, Billy Bigelow inquires about returning to earth for one day and recounts the story of his life and death in flashbacks.
Billy, a rough-talking carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a young, innocent mill worker, live in the small town of Boothbay Harbor, Maine. After Billy pays too much attention to Julie and incurs the wrath of jealous carousel owner Mrs. Mullin, he is fired. Julie violates the curfew imposed by wealthy mill owner Mr. Bascombe, who fires her while a police officer warns her about Billy.
Billy and Julie marry and live at the seaside spa and restaurant of her cousin Nettie Jordan. Julie admits that Billy, frustrated and bitter because he cannot find work, has started hitting her. Mrs. Mullin wishes to rehire Billy, but only if he leaves his wife. However, when Julie informs Billy that she is pregnant, Billy is overjoyed and declines Mrs. Mullin's offer. He tells Julie of his dream to take her to San Francisco.
Worried about finances and lacking work experience, Billy secretly agrees to join his pal Jigger Craigin in robbing Bascombe. During a clambake on a nearby island, Billy and Jigger sneak onto the mainland to commit the robbery, but Bascombe, who is usually unarmed, carries a gun and the robbery is foiled. While Bascombe is momentarily distracted, Jigger flees and leaves Billy at the mercy of the police. Cornered, Billy climbs atop a pile of crates, but they collapse and Billy falls on his own knife. The others return from the clambake, and Julie sees the mortally wounded Billy. She rushes to him and he dies after saying his last words to her. Julie is devastated because she truly loved Billy, even though she never had the courage to say so out loud.
Back in the afterlife, Billy is told that he can return to mortal life for one day to make amends. Billy returns to find his 15-year-old daughter Louise emotionally scarred by constant taunting because her father tried to commit a robbery. Without disclosing his identity to Louise, Billy makes himself visible, tries to raise her spirits and gives her a star that he stole from heaven. Louise is frightened and refuses the star, but Billy, in desperation, slaps her hand. She rushes inside the house and informs Julie, saying that she did not feel a slap, but a kiss. Billy tries to become invisible before Julie can see him, but she glimpses him for a brief moment and senses that he has returned for a reason.
Billy asks his heavenly guide for permission to attend Louise's high-school graduation, where he silently gives Louise confidence and assures Julie that he loved her. As he leaves the graduation ceremony, he is taken back to heaven.