Town Without Pity

Four drunk American soldiers leave the Florida Bar and head toward a river in the nearby countryside. The journey places them near a quiet, everyday setting where the violence to come will erupt. The mood blends casual bravado with a looming sense of trouble.

Karin Steinhof quarrels with her 19-year-old boyfriend, Frank Borgmann, on the riverbank. The tense moment foreshadows the danger she will face later and introduces personal stakes amid the rural setting. The scene sets the stage for the conflict that drives the trial.

While Karin swims back to the riverbank, she is confronted by Snyder and raped by four soldiers. Borgmann tries to intervene but is knocked out by Snyder. Larkin lingers briefly, covers Karin with his shirt, and then flees with the others.

Larkin stays behind to help briefly, covering Karin with his shirt before joining the others in fleeing the scene. The attackers leave, and the crime remains unresolved in the countryside. This moment reveals Larkin's conflicted conscience and the complexity of loyalty.

The four men are quickly apprehended by authorities after the incident. News of the assault inflames anger in the local community and sparks demands for swift justice. The case is set on a collision course with public sentiment.

Major General Stafford orders that the court-martial be held publicly in the local high school gymnasium to appease German outrage. The decision ensures public scrutiny and heightened emotions surrounding the proceedings. The setting shifts from a rural scene to formal military justice.

Captain Steve Garrett is appointed as the defense attorney for the accused and begins interviewing residents to uncover facts that could alter the case. His inquiry draws scrutiny from a hostile German reporter, Inge Koerner. The investigation sets the stage for a battle over truth and credibility.

At the trial's start, three defendants plead not guilty, while Larkin attempts to plead guilty but is overruled. An army psychiatrist testifies that Larkin is impotent for psychological reasons, a claim Larkin denies violently. The exchange tests the credibility of witnesses and the defense strategy.

Garrett confronts Karl Steinhof and urges him to withdraw Karin from the proceedings to spare her further damage. He warns that continued cross-examination could break her down. Steinhof refuses to withdraw his daughter and remains in town.

As cross-examination continues, Karin collapses under the strain and is withdrawn from the proceedings by her father. Her removal ensures the defendants cannot be executed. The courtroom atmosphere shifts from pursuit of truth to a protective withdrawal.

The four men are convicted of rape; three receive long terms at hard labor, and Larkin is given six years. The verdict delivers a severe public judgment that unsettles the town. The outcome emphasizes the clash between justice and social pressures.

Despite her ordeal, the town's anger shifts toward Karin as she becomes a symbol of the case. She faces social isolation and judgment from people she once knew. The community's pity gives way to cruelty, underscoring the title's theme.

Frank Borgmann attacks Garrett with a whip, but Garrett tells him to take Karin and leave town forever. Borgmann agrees to flee, but their future remains uncertain as they navigate money and escape. The confrontation ends with the couple fleeing under the burden of public scrutiny.

To raise money, Borgmann forges his mother's signature on a check, prompting police pursuit. His mother remains determined to control him, complicating their attempt to vanish. The incident demonstrates how the case widens beyond the courtroom.

Karin runs away, and a reporter informs Garrett that Karin has drowned herself in the river near the place of her assault. The ending reinforces the film's 'town without pity' motif and brings the tragedy full circle. The river scene echoes the crime's origins and its enduring impact.