War Nurse

War Nurse

Year: 1930

Runtime: 81 mins

Language: English

Director: Edgar Selwyn

RomanceDramaWar

The World War as seen through the eyes of young women who lived, loved and suffered on the Western Front. At the outbreak of World I, women from diverse backgrounds volunteer as nurses in France, confronting the harsh realities of battle, caring for wounded soldiers, and enduring personal loss and camaraderie amid the chaos.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen War Nurse yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – War Nurse (1930)

Explore the full timeline and setting of War Nurse (1930). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War I (1914-1918)

The narrative takes place over the war years in the 1910s, capturing the daily realities of nurses serving in a war zone. Soldiers arrive with injuries, bombardments interrupt routines, and the calendar of battles marks the characters' endurance. The period framing highlights the social expectations of young women stepping into demanding roles at a time of global conflict.

Location

France, Paris

The action unfolds in France during World War I, centered on an improvised hospital set up inside an abandoned building near the front. The hospital is crowded, under threat, and built on the grit and grit of frontline care. The setting emphasizes the urgency, danger, and emotional toll faced by the young American nurses.

🇫🇷 War-torn France 🏥 Hospital setting ⚔️ World War I

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:55

Main Characters – War Nurse (1930)

Meet the key characters of War Nurse (1930), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Wally O'Brien (Robert Montgomery)

A dashing fighter pilot who captivates Babs with his charm but resists a serious commitment. He pursues romance while recognizing the war’s risks, and he demonstrates bravery even as he treats life as a momentary affair. He leaves for a mission over Germany, later returning as a prisoner of war and eventually admitting love for Babs in adulthood.

✈️ Pilot 🛡️ Bravery ❤️ Romance

Joy Meadows (Anita Page)

A naive, privileged nurse from Manhattan who struggles to adjust to frontline war life. She falls in love with Robbie and dreams of marriage and children, but the harsh realities and scandals test her resolve. After being sent back to America, Joy ultimately dies giving birth to a son.

💔 Naivety 🏥 Frontline nurse 🍼 Motherhood

Barbara Whitney (Barbara Whitney)

Known as Babs, she is a practical, resilient nurse who forms a bond with Wally but remains wary of his non-committal attitude. She supports Joy and ultimately takes charge of the baby, showing leadership and care. After the war, an adult Wally returns and tacitly reveals his love for Babs.

🛡️ Resilience ❤️ Love 👶 Maternal role

Robin Neill (Robert Ames)

A wounded New York soldier who is loved by Joy and reveals he is married. He remains compassionate as he battles illness and finally dies, leaving Joy devastated.

💔 Love 🏥 Wounded soldier

Rosalie Parker (Marie Prevost)

A fellow nurse who participates in the social dynamics of the unit and shares in the camaraderie among the nurses during their time in France.

👩‍⚕️ Nurse 🎉 Social circle

Marion 'Kansas' (Helen Jerome Eddy)

An older, experienced nurse who embodies steadiness and guidance within the hospital; she is killed by artillery while moving to a new location, marking the human cost of the conflict.

⚰️ War casualty 🏥 Veteran nurse

Cushie (Zasu Pitts)

A life-in-the-moment nurse who provides morale and a touch of humor amid the stress, helping to sustain the group through difficult days.

🗨️ Morale booster 🤝 Teamwork

Matron (Hedda Hopper)

An authority figure overseeing the hospital’s operations, balancing discipline with the welfare of the nurses and patients.

👩‍⚕️ Authority 🏥 Leadership

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:55

Major Themes – War Nurse (1930)

Explore the central themes of War Nurse (1930), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🩺 Duty & Care

A diverse group of young women answers the urgent call for nurses, transforming an abandoned building into a functioning hospital. They endure harsh conditions, long hours, and constant stress while delivering medical care with compassion. The theme centers on professional ethics, resilience, and selflessness amidst the chaos of war. Their commitment reshapes their identities as caretakers and contributors on the battlefield.

💔 Love & Loss

Romance blooms and frays under wartime pressures: Wally pursues Barbara, Joy falls for Robbie, and both relationships are tested by separation, secrets, and the threat of death. The story intertwines intimate longing with the brutal realities of combat and mortality. Joy’s heartbreak, Robbie’s death, and the later revelation of adult Wally’s feelings for Babs underline how love survives and evolves in hardship. The emotional cost of war matches the physical danger faced by the nurses.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 15:55

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about wartime nurses and found family like War Nurse

Stories of women forged together by crisis, finding strength in shared hardship.If you liked the deep bonds and shared sacrifices of the nurses in War Nurse, these movies feature similar stories of women forged together by crisis. Explore films about found families, wartime sisterhood, and powerful female camaraderie in the face of immense adversity.

courageousresilientheartbreakingsomberhopefulgrittytense

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a group of women facing a prolonged crisis. The story charts their journey from initial strangers to a tightly-knit unit, bonded by shared trauma and purpose. The plot is often driven by external threats and internal emotional struggles, culminating in profound personal losses that test, but ultimately strengthen, their collective resolve.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped by their focus on powerful female ensembles, the theme of found family under duress, and a shared emotional journey of resilience, sacrifice, and deep, often tragic, camaraderie. They deliver a heavy, emotionally resonant experience centered on collective strength.

Movies with bittersweet endings after heavy loss like War Nurse

Journeys where profound grief gives way to a fragile, hard-won hope.Fans of War Nurse's emotionally heavy journey and its bittersweet ending will appreciate these similar films. Discover movies where characters endure devastating loss but find a fragile, hopeful new beginning, blending deep sadness with a touch of redemption.

heartbreakingsomberhopefulgrittytragicresilientpoignant

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a linear accumulation of traumatic events and losses that test the protagonist's spirit. The climax is often a major, personal tragedy. The resolution avoids a purely sad or happy ending, instead showing how characters integrate their grief into a new, altered reality, finding a small but meaningful reason to continue forward despite the scars.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their dominant emotional arc: a journey through heavy, unflinching tragedy that culminates in a resolution which is neither fully happy nor desolate. They share a specific tonal blend of profound sadness with cautious optimism, creating a deeply poignant and resonant viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of War Nurse

Don't stop at just watching — explore War Nurse in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what War Nurse is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

War Nurse Summary

Read a complete plot summary of War Nurse, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

War Nurse Summary

War Nurse Timeline

Track the full timeline of War Nurse with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

War Nurse Timeline

War Nurse Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of War Nurse that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

War Nurse Spoiler-Free Summary

More About War Nurse

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about War Nurse: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About War Nurse

Similar Movies to War Nurse

Discover movies like War Nurse that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.