What Is The Proud and Profane About?
The premise of The Proud and Profane in 323 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the fever‑washed islands of New Caledonia, 1943 unfolds as a fragile sanctuary surrounded by the relentless thrum of the Pacific war. The humid air carries the distant echo of distant battles, while makeshift clubs and mess halls become focal points for soldiers yearning for a moment of normalcy. The film’s tone blends the stark urgency of a wartime landscape with the intimate, lingering melancholy of hearts left in limbo, inviting the viewer to feel both the heat of the tropics and the cool pull of longing.
Lee Ashley arrives on the island as a Red Cross volunteer, driven by a quiet determination to honor the memory of her late husband, a Marine lieutenant who fell at Guadalcanal. Though officially tasked with entertaining and supporting the troops, she is drawn into the deeper currents of the base, where every smile and song hints at untold stories. Her poise masks an inner restlessness—a need to understand the circumstances of her loss while navigating the delicate expectations placed upon her by fellow volunteers and the men they serve.
Col. Colin Buck commands a hardened Marine Raider battalion, embodying the rugged confidence and stubborn pride of a soldier hardened by combat. His presence casts a magnetic shadow over the Red Cross enclave, and his initial disdain for the “coddling” of troops soon gives way to a more complex rapport with Lee. Their interactions crackle with tension, as mutual curiosity and concealed vulnerabilities surface beneath a veneer of bravado, suggesting a connection that could bridge the gulf between battlefield grit and civilian yearning.
Around them, figures such as the seasoned volunteer Kate Connors and the protective Eddie Wodcik provide both anchor and contrast, illustrating the varied ways individuals cope with the war’s upheavals. Together, they paint a portrait of a community striving to find moments of tenderness and purpose amid chaos, where love, duty, and the shadows of the past intertwine in a quietly resonant, romantic drama.
What Happens in The Proud and Profane?
The complete story of The Proud and Profane, from the first scene to the last, in 519 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
In 1943, Lee Ashley [Deborah Kerr] is the widow of a Paramarine lieutenant killed in the Battle of Bloody Ridge on Guadalcanal, and she has joined the American Red Cross in Noumea, New Caledonia, to entertain American servicemen. Her leader at the service club, Kate Connors [Thelma Ritter], is initially wary of Lee’s presence, fearing she might use the role as a path to uncover her late husband’s fate rather than focus on the soldiers. The Red Cross women are also expected to help with the wounded, a duty Lee is reluctant to take on at first, preferring to stay with entertainment and education duties rather than frontline care.
A Marine Raider battalion arrives in New Caledonia after fighting in the South Pacific. Their commander, Lt. Col. Colin Black [William Holden], resents the notion of the Red Cross women coddling his men, arguing that the only rightful place for women in war is in skirts that the men chase and the sweethearts waiting back home. He softens his stance when he attempts to win Lee’s interest by pretending he knew Lee’s late husband and had spent time with him shortly before his death. Though Lee despises Black’s arrogance and the condescension he’s shown, she finds herself drawn to him and gradually begins to fall for him, torn between skepticism and attraction.
Among the Raiders is the Navy chaplain, Lt. (jg) Holmes [William Redfield], a man whose recent quietness and sadness hint at burdens carried in silence. During a battle, Holmes has led Marines in prayer; a Japanese soldier, presumed dead, throws a hand grenade that kills several and wounds their sergeant. Black’s actions in the aftermath—demoting the wounded sergeant and underscoring the consequences of their exposure—highlight the fragility of command under pressure, and Holmes’s guilt is deepened by tropical fever and exhaustion from nonstop duty.
Another key figure is Private Eddie Wodcik [Dewey Martin], whom Kate had taken under her wing back in New York. Eddie treats Lee with a protective warmth, almost as if she were his sister, and he becomes her staunch defender when needed. His strength isn’t only physical; he showcases jiujitsu to throw a disrespectful sailor to the deck, signaling his readiness to stand up for Lee and the others.
Lee and Black share a dinner aboard an American warship, where a distant neighbor—now a naval officer—is present, prompting memories of pre-war life in a wealthy community. The two also reveal deeper layers of their pasts: Black recounts a childhood marked by poverty and being a half-Indian man from Montana, a revelation that adds complexity to his fierce exterior. As the Raiders prepare to ship out for a new assignment, Lee discovers she is pregnant and learns that Black has a wife in Washington. She also uncovers truths about her late husband that she never knew before. Meanwhile, Eddie Wodcik confronts the unsettling realization of what his colonel has done to Lee, complicating loyalties and trust within the unit.
Throughout, the story threads together duty, desire, secrecy, and the heavy costs of war, painting a portrait of people trying to do right under extraordinary strain.
The Proud and Profane Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Lee joins the Red Cross in Noumea” to “Eddie learns what Black did to Lee”. 13 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Lee joins the Red Cross in Noumea
In 1943, Lee Ashley arrives in Noumea, New Caledonia, to entertain American servicemen as part of the Red Cross. She is the widow of a Paramarine lieutenant killed at Bloody Ridge. Kate Connors is wary that Lee might use this posting as a pilgrimage to learn about her husband.
When:1943 Where:Noumea, New Caledonia
- 2
Red Cross duties and Lee's reluctance
Beyond entertainment, Red Cross women are expected to aid wounded soldiers. Lee initially refuses to participate in caring for the injured, clinging to her role as performer. Kate urges her to embrace the broader responsibilities of the service club.
When:1943 Where:Noumea, service club
- 3
Raiders arrive; Black's view on women
A Marine Raider battalion arrives in New Caledonia. Colonel Colin Black objects to the Red Cross women treating his men softly and argues that wartime roles for women are limited. He asserts a harsh view of the women who follow them into war.
When:1943 Where:New Caledonia
- 4
Black tries to win Lee with deception
Black attempts to seduce Lee, and when she resists, he schemes to win her over by pretending he knew her late husband and had been with him before his death. The ruse is designed to provoke Lee's interest and trust.
When:1943 Where:On land in Noumea
- 5
Lee's conflicted feelings and romance
Despite despising Black's arrogance, Lee finds herself drawn to him and begins to fall in love. The budding romance complicates her loyalty to the Red Cross and her sense of duty in wartime.
When:1943 Where:Noumea
- 6
Holmes's quiet guilt grows on the battlefield
Navy chaplain Holmes is a changed, quiet, and saddened man under the strain of war. During a battle, Marines gather in prayer, and a Japanese soldier throws a grenade, killing several and wounding their sergeant. Holmes bears the weight of terrible guilt from the incident.
When:During a battle, 1943 Where:South Pacific battlefield
- 7
Black demotes the wounded sergeant; Marines shield the chaplain
Black demotes the wounded sergeant, blaming him for exposing the unit. The bodies of the Marines shield the chaplain from further harm, underscoring the bond among the men even as Black's harsh judgment lingers over them. Holmes's guilt is intensified by the incident.
When:During the same battle, 1943 Where:South Pacific battlefield
- 8
Eddie Wodcik's loyalty and jiu jitsu display
Private Eddie Wodcik, whom Kate has raised like a son, shows fierce loyalty to Lee and the unit. He protects her and demonstrates his strength by throwing a disrespectful sailor to the floor with jiu jitsu. His actions reveal a protective, tight-knit bond within the group.
When:1943 Where:New Caledonia camp
- 9
Dinner aboard a warship and life talk
Lee and Black share a dinner aboard an American warship, where a former neighbor now serving as a naval officer joins them. They discuss their pre-war civilian lives, exposing differences in background and class. The conversation deepens the complex dynamic between them.
When:1943 Where:On board an American warship
- 10
Black reveals his poverty and half-Indian heritage
During the dinner, Black opens up about his life of poverty in Montana as a half-Indian. This backstory adds layers to his brusque exterior and informs Lee's evolving feelings toward him. The admission challenges Lee's perceptions of power and vulnerability.
When:1943 Where:On board the warship
Show the other 3 events of The Proud and Profane Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Raiders ship out; Lee learns she is pregnant
The Raider battalion is shipped out for a couple of months. Lee discovers she is pregnant, a revelation that complicates her relationship with Black and her role within the Red Cross. She also learns that Black has a wife in Washington, further entangling loyalties.
When:1943 Where:Aboard ship departing New Caledonia
- 12
Lee learns things about her late husband
As the Raiders are at sea, Lee learns new information about her late husband's life and their marriage that she never knew before. The revelation reshapes her understanding of her lover's past and the realities of wartime marriages.
When:1943–1944 voyage Where:Aboard ship
- 13
Eddie learns what Black did to Lee
Hot-headed Eddie Wodcik discovers what the colonel did to Lee, adding another layer of tension to the already fraught relationships. The discovery affects trust and resolve among the Marines and Lee's standing within the unit.
When:1943–1944 voyage Where:Aboard ship / at sea
Who Are the Main Characters in The Proud and Profane?
5 characters, among them Lee Ashley (Deborah Kerr), Lt. Col. Colin Black (William Holden) and Eddie Wodcik (Dewey Martin): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Lee Ashley (Deborah Kerr)
Played by Deborah Kerr
Lee is a Red Cross volunteer and the widow of a Paramarine lieutenant. She arrives to entertain troops and later confronts the demands placed on women in war, balancing empathy with independence. Throughout the story she navigates attraction to Black, pregnancy, and revelations about her late husband.
- 🎗️ Red Cross Worker
- 💖 Romantic Lead
- 🤰 Pregnant
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Lt. Col. Colin Black (William Holden)
Played by William Holden
A capable Marine Raider commander who initially mocks women’s roles but is drawn to Lee. He uses manipulation to court her, later revealing vulnerability and moral conflict. His actions trigger consequences that force both him and Lee to confront the truth about their lives.
- 🎖️ Army Officer
- 💔 Complex Romantic Lead
- 🧭 Moral Dilemma
- EW
Eddie Wodcik (Dewey Martin)
Played by Dewey Martin
A young Private who Lee adores as a surrogate son and who defies authority by showing loyalty and courage. He protects Lee and demonstrates a fiery, impulsive side, including showcasing his jiu jitsu skills.
- 🎖️ Young Soldier
- 🧡 Protective
- 🥋 Martial Artist
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Kate Connors (Thelma Ritter)
Played by Thelma Ritter
Lee's service club leader, initially wary of Lee's assignment but ultimately supportive. She observes the shifts in morale and the Chaplain’s demeanor, acting as a pragmatic and caring presence among the troops and Red Cross staff.
- 🎗️ Service Club Leader
- 🤝 Supportive Mentor
- 🫂 War-time Ally
- L(
Lt. (jg) Holmes (William Redfield)
Played by William Redfield
The Navy chaplain who is quiet and haunted by past events, including the grenade incident. His guilt shapes his behavior and his relationship with the Marines and the other characters, reflecting the war’s spiritual weight.
- ⚖️ Chaplain
- 🙏 Spiritual Leader
- 🕊️ Guilt
Where and When Is The Proud and Profane Set?
The Proud and Profane is set in Noumea, New Caledonia and Guadalcanal (1943). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1943
The events unfold in 1943 during World War II, a period of intense island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific. Red Cross activities and Marine operations take place under the strain of combat and growing casualties. The era's sense of duty, sacrifice, and shifting moral expectations frames the relationships and choices of the characters.
Where
Noumea, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal
Noumea in New Caledonia serves as the base where Red Cross workers entertain troops and aid the wounded during WWII. The story also moves to Guadalcanal, reflecting frontline danger in the broader South Pacific theater. The tropical setting, military routines, and constant threat of conflict shape the atmosphere of the film.
- 🗺️ War Theater
- 🌴 Pacific Front
What Are the Themes of The Proud and Profane?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Romance, Duty and Guilt.
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01
Romance
Love develops under wartime strain, testing personal morals and professional boundaries. Lee's attraction to Black challenges traditional gender roles and the expectations placed on Red Cross workers. The relationship becomes a focal point that both compels and complicates the characters’ duties. Secrets about their pasts deepen the tension and consequences of their bond.
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02
Duty
The Red Cross work highlights the dual call of care and combat, showing how morale-boosting tasks coexist with nursing the wounded. Characters wrestle with balancing personal longing and their obligations to teammates and mission. Command decisions and disciplined behavior test human compassion in extreme circumstances. Duty drives actions even as it limits personal happiness.
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03
Guilt
Guilt threads through the narrative, especially around the grenade incident and its aftermath. Holmes’s spiritual burden and Black’s confrontations with consequences reveal how responsibility lingers beyond battles. Forgiveness and resilience emerge as ways to cope with trauma. The theme examines whether moral reckonings can coexist with wartime duty.
What Kind of Film Is The Proud and Profane?
Melancholic in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Melancholic
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A somber and character-driven wartime drama that explores grief and conflicting loyalties against a backdrop of military tension, resulting in a melancholic and bittersweet emotional journey.
- melancholic
- gritty
- romantic tension
- somber
- introspective
- war-weary
- grief and loss
- wartime romance
- military life
- secrecy and betrayal
Content notes: war violence, death of a spouse.
Quiz
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Where to Watch The Proud and Profane
Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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