Without Pity

Without Pity

Year: 1948

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Alberto Lattuada

DramaRomanceCrime

The Story of a Negro G.I. and a Girl Campfollower! A struggling woman and a black American soldier fall in love in post-World War II Italy.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Without Pity 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 – Without Pity (1948)

Trace every key event in Without Pity (1948) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Onboard train under fire en route to Livorno

Angela travels on a boxcar en route to Livorno, searching for her brother Carlo. A drive-by shooting erupts and two armed men land on the car; a man shoots Jerry Jackson, an African-American army sergeant, before escaping. Angela stops the train to ensure medical treatment for Jerry, setting off a chain of dangerous events.

Train/boxcar en route to Livorno
2

Detention after hospital recovery

Jerry recovers at an army camp while Angela is detained by U.S. army officials. She is ultimately sent to a convent with other female refugees, kept under guard. The separation intensifies the peril surrounding both characters.

Army camp and convent
3

Convent escape night

That night Angela holds a nun at gunpoint as chaos breaks out inside the convent. Most of the women escape, while Angela's actions reveal rising desperation and drive her further into danger. The escape reshapes her alliances and prospects.

Convent
4

Refuge at Giacomo's apartment

Angela and Marcella flee to Giacomo's apartment seeking safety. The new shelter brings them into contact with locals who could aid or threaten their fragile plans. Tensions rise as authorities and smugglers close in.

Giacomo's apartment
5

Docks morning smuggling plan

Pier Luigi arrives at the docks with a plan to smuggle U.S. military supplies onto the black market. His men pressure Jerry to act as an intermediary, but Jerry refuses the offer. Carlo's whereabouts remain unknown, leaving Angela and Jerry in a precarious position.

Docks
6

Reunion and promise to return

Jerry reunites with Angela and thanks her for saving his life, though Carlo's location remains uncertain. He promises to return for her, strengthening a fragile alliance amid looming danger. The reunion briefly restores hope before new complications arise.

Docks (near the waterfront)
7

Palm readings and a fateful ride

That night the couple goes to an amusement park and later a cafe where Baron Hoffman overhears their conversation and performs a palm reading, remarking that their hands are alike. Hoffman and Pier Luigi move to control their fate, and Jerry learns Pier Luigi cannot continue supporting Angela. They agree that Jerry will transport the goods the next morning.

Amusement park and cafe
8

Jerry's arrest

The plan to transport the goods is set to begin the next morning, but Jerry is arrested as he attempts to fulfill his part of the deal. Angela learns of his arrest and the fragile thread holding them together tightens into tension. The events trap them in a dangerous web of crime and loyalty.

Prison / transport hub
9

Carlo dead, Angela fever

Pier Luigi reveals that Carlo is dead, a crushing blow to Angela. She throws herself into a river and falls ill, but is recuperated with Marcella's care. The loss intensifies her resolve to escape and reunite with Jerry.

River / hospital vicinity
10

Escape and Dina's death

Jerry escapes the prison camp with his Army friend Richard, but Richard is shot dead during the escape. The group later reaches a nightclub, where Dina, left behind, is struck dead by a passing truck. The string of tragedies underscores the high stakes of their escape.

Prison camp; nightclub vicinity
11

Reunion at Pier Luigi's apartment

Angela returns to Pier Luigi's apartment and finds Jerry, renewing their hope for escape. They begin formulating a plan, aware that time is running out and every choice could determine whether they survive.

Pier Luigi's apartment
12

Beach reunion and looming danger

Marcella secures a pathway to immigrate to the United States and sails away from the conflict, while Angela reunites with Jerry on a sunlit beach, dreaming of running away together. However, gunfire nearby forces them to reassess their chances and stay vigilant.

Beach
13

Pier Luigi's smuggling deal looms

Angela overhears Pier Luigi meeting with a captain to smuggle four million lira worth of goods tomorrow night. The revelation heightens the urgency for their escape and tests their trust in each other.

Dockside meeting
14

Final confrontation and cliff

Jerry holds Pier Luigi and Giacomo at gunpoint and takes their transport truck to secure money for their escape. At a cathedral, Jerry arrives with the money but is confronted by one of Pier Luigi's men; Angela is shot and the money is repossessed. Jerry cradles her onto the truck and vows not to leave her, but they crash off a cliff as military police close in.

Cathedral and coastal road

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:29

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Without Pity Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Without Pity

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Without Pity

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