The March sisters - Jo (June Allyson), Beth (Margaret O'Brien), Amy (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), and Meg (Janet Leigh) - struggle to make ends meet in their New England household while their father is away fighting in the Civil War. Despite harsh times, they cling to optimism, often with neighbor Laurie (Peter Lawford) as a companion. As they mature, they face burgeoning ambitions and relationships, as well as tragedy, all the while maintaining their unbreakable bond.