The film opens with a group of nurses arriving in Australia, survivors of an evacuation before their base fell to Japanese forces. Among them is Lt. Janet 'Davy' Davidson — Claudette Colbert — who had wanted to stay and fainted at the outset, and now lies in a coma. An officer asks the others to recount their journeys up to that moment, which triggers a long, immersive flashback that sets the emotional stage for the story.
The flashback moves to California, where the nurses prepare to sail for the Philippines. Lt. Joan O'Doul — Paulette Goddard — reveals she has two fiancés because she cannot say no to a man. Davey covers for her, stopping the two from finding out about each other, and soon the group boards a ship that carries them toward war. The conflict begins to unfold as their voyage first heads toward Hawaii and then is redirected toward the Philippines. One convoy boat is sunk, and its survivors are taken aboard the nurses’ vessel. Among them is Olivia D'Arcy — Veronica Lake — who displays a sharp, unsympathetic demeanor toward her fellow nurses. On the same boat, Davey encounters John Summers — George Reeves — a soldier she initially dislikes, only to grow closer to him as time passes. Joan meets a nervous marine named Kansas — Sonny Tufts — and a Christmas party aboard the ship becomes a turning point, with dances shared between Joan and Kansas and between Davey and John. A dramatic moment arises when Olivia reveals she was supposed to be married that day, but her fiancé was killed at Pearl Harbor, leaving her with a vow to strike back at the enemy.
Upon reaching the Philippines, Manila is declared an open city and the nurses push inland toward Bataan. Supplies are scarce, and the nurses do their best to care for the wounded under increasingly dire conditions. Joan grows fond of the local children, while Davey demonstrates exceptional skill and compassion in caring for patients. Olivia begins tending to wounded Japanese POWs, yet she cannot bring herself to kill, a moral struggle that haunts her role. John and Davey share a kiss as they reunite, but the front advances and evacuation becomes necessary as the Japanese push forward. Olivia ultimately sacrifices herself to ensure the others escape by detonating a grenade as the enemy closes in, an act that underscores the harsh costs of war.
The nurses relocate to a jagged jungle “hospital” near a town, where resources remain scarce and the environment is punishing. Ma — Mary Servoss — the nurse leader, must cope with heartbreak when her son’s legs are amputated, a blow that tests the group’s morale and resolve. Kansas continues to lead Filipino troops, and Joan and Kansas reconnect, while Davey and John also reaffirm their bond. Rumors of a convoy spark cautious optimism, but Davey learns that the Japanese have achieved a blockade and that reinforcements are unlikely.
As the front line collapses, Davey pleads with the Coronel to evacuate, but a bombing raid devastates much of the base, killing several nurses and doctors. The attack highlights the brutal reality of war, with hospitals and ambulances repeatedly targeted in violation of international norms. John reveals that the base’s supply convoy has been destroyed and reinforcements are not coming, forcing the nurses to evacuate to a fortress-like island with many others. A harsh moment occurs when Joan knocks Kansas unconscious to prevent him from dying in a doomed resistance, a stark reminder of survival’s grim calculus. On the island, conditions briefly stabilize, but bombardment intensifies and the fortress—nicknamed the Gibraltar of the East—looks set to fall.
John and Davey decide to marry, defying military rules, and a makeshift ceremony is conducted by the base chaplain. Soon afterward, John and several soldiers depart for Mindanao to secure supplies. The base’s money is burned, signaling a desperate scramble, and the nurses are told they will be evacuated first. Initially reluctant, most agree to leave, and Davey remains determined to stay with John, keeping a promise she made to him. Ma learns that John’s expedition is considered lost, a fact that is kept away from the rest of the group. When it becomes clear that John may be dead, Davey faints. The nurses finally evacuate, and the island is overtaken by the Japanese.
The flashback ends as the officer reads a heartfelt letter from John, confirming that he is still alive, continues to fight, and still loves Davey. Davey wakes and simply says,
> John
and the film concludes. The narrative underscores the timing of the release—barely over a year after the Battle of the Philippines—highlighting Allied efforts around Bataan and Corregidor, the dramatic escape of MacArthur, and the profound emotional and physical toll of war. While a romance threads through the events, the core of the story remains the resilience, sacrifice, and steadfast bond among the nurses amid the devastation of battle.
