They Were Expendable

1945

2h 15m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

117

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4 Videos

37 Images

Drama

War

After a demonstration of new PT boats, navy brass are still unconvinced of their viability in combat, leaving Lt. "Rusty" Ryan frustrated. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, however, Ryan and his buddy Lt. Brickley are told they can finally take their squadron into battle. The PT boats quickly prove their worth, successfully shooting down Japanese planes, relaying messages between islands, and picking off a multitude of enemy ships.

Directors

John Ford

Writers

Frank Wead(screenplay by)

William L. White(book by)

Christina Stead(screenplay by)

Stars

Robert Montgomery

John Wayne

Donna Reed

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Videos4

Photos37

Top cast

Robert Montgomery

Lt. John Brickley

John Wayne

Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Donna Reed

Lt. Sandy Davyss

Jack Holt

General Martin

Ward Bond

"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

Major James Morton

Seaman Jones

Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

Ens. George Cross

'Ohio'

Ens. Tony Aiken

'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c

'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c

Jack Pennick

'Doc'

Alex Havier

'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c

Charles Trowbridge

Admiral Blackwell

Directors

John Ford

Writers

Frank Wead(screenplay by)

William L. White(book by)

Christina Stead(screenplay by)

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

"Brick" (Robert Montgomery) is an US Navy lieutenant desperate to prove that his motorised torpedo boats can do more for the war effort than deliver the mail. Luckily, he's got "Rusty" (John Wayne) as his number two and plenty of opportunity to test their theories against the advancing Japanese as with things looking terrible for the Americans in Manila, they have their work cut out for them. Even though things are relentless and perilous, "Rusty" still finds time for a little romance with nurse "Sandy" (Donna Reed) and we've also got Ward Bond and a lively few scenes from "Dad" (Russell Simpson) to help keep the adventure focused. The film was co-written by "Spig" Wead - a man whom Wayne played in another John Ford feature "The Wings of Eagles" (1957) - so the narrative has a degree of authenticity as their forces are forced to retreat towards Australia. There are also some decent visual effects with plenty of action, (not so) near misses as Ford allows his three stars to tell this story in a far less jingoistic fashion than some of the more propagandist efforts made to bolster public support during WWII. Wayne turns on the charm here - with Reed and with the audience, and this works well.

Geronimo196707 Jul, 2024