The 1941 film "Among the Living" is almost a horror film about a man who discovers that he has an insane twin brother and the problems that causes for both brothers, spouses, and girlfriends. Early in the film the insane brother escapes from the house where he is being kept. The family doctor and the sane brother visit the house and find money on the floor. The coins appear to be imitation or prop coins.

The Raden family is the wealthiest family in the town and Maxim Raden, the patriarch of the family, has just died.

Maxim's son John and his wife Elaine attend the funeral.

Dr. Ben Saunders, the family doctor, tells John Raden that his twin brother, Paul, who supposedly died at the age of ten, is still living and being kept at the family mansion in the basement due to insanity. The doctor had produced a false death certificate for Paul. The doctor explains that 25 years ago Paul had seen his father kill his mother and then the father threw Paul across the room causing a head injury to Paul resulting in insanity. Paul has been kept in a room in the basement of the old supposedly abandoned family mansion and has been cared for by Pompey, a servant. Paul learns of the funeral and is still upset about his mother. Dr. Saunders and John visit the house and find Pompey dead and Paul gone.

The coins appear to be imitation or prop coins. John and the doctor discover that while escaping Paul picked a large amount of cash.

They discuss the situation and Dr. Saunders reports to the sheriff that Pompey died of a heart attack. Paul wanders around the town and with the money he has rents an apartment. A somewhat vain young girl named Millie lives in the building sees that Paul has money.

Paul gives her some money for a dress and then takes her to town for "shopping". Paul then visits John and his wife Elaine.

Elaine is shocked at the situation.

The two brothers meet but Paul becomes frightened and leaves.

Paul then visits a local dance hall. A young woman introduces herself and gets Paul to buy her a drink. They get into an argument and the woman leaves, followed by Paul.

Paul follows the woman and returns to the apartment and Millie. The woman's body is found and the doctor suggests that John offer a $5,000 reward for the girl's killer without identifying him as Paul. Millie wants the money and suggests that she and Paul look for the killer. She suggests that the killer is hiding in the abandoned Raden mansion.

Millie comes prepared for action. Paul and Millie visit the old house and separately the doctor, John, and a lot of townspeople converge on the house, some with guns. Paul is shot and then runs away.

Some townspeople believe that John is the killer and stage a "trial" at the house.

John blames his twin brother Paul but the mob doesn't believe him. The doctor confesses to the false death certificate but the mob is still angry. John jumps out of a window and heads for the cemetary.

Paul is dead at his mother's tomb.

Albert Dekker as John Raden and Paul Raden
Susan Hayward as Millie Pickens
Harry Carey as Dr. Ben Saunders
Frances Farmer as Elaine Raden
Director: Stuart Heisler
Writers: Garrett Fort, Lester Cole, Brian Marlow