They Were Expendable (1945)

★ 6.5 2h 15m IMDb
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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.

They Were Expendable

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Cast

Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery as Lt. John Brickley Died 1981 · Fishkill Landing [now Beacon], New York, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert Montgomery (born Henry Montgomery Jr.; May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American film and television actor, director, and producer. He was also t...
John Wayne
John Wayne as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan Died 1979 · Winterset, Iowa, USA Marion Mitchell Morrison (born Marion Robert Morrison) (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed Duke, was an American actor and filmmaker. An Academy Award-winn...
Donna Reed
Donna Reed as Lt. Sandy Davyss Died 1986 · Denison, Iowa, USA From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Donna Reed (born Donna Belle Mullenger; January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American film and television actress and producer. Her career spanned more th...
Jack Holt
Jack Holt as General Martin Died 1951 · New York City, New York, USA Jack Holt (born Charles John Holt, Jr.) was an American film actor. He was a leading man of Silent and sound films and known for his many roles in Westerns..
Ward Bond
Ward Bond as "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate Died 1960 · Benkelman, Nebraska, USA Wardell Edwin Bond (April 9, 1903 – November 5, 1960) was an American film character actor whose rugged appearance and easygoing charm were featured in more than 200 films, as well as in the NBC telev...
Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson as Ens. 'Snake' Gardner Died 1992 · Peoria, Illinois, USA Marshall Thompson (November 27, 1925 – May 18, 1992) was an American film and television actor. He was born James Marshall Thompson in Peoria, Illinois. In 1943 Thompson, known for his boy-next-door g...

Audience Reviews

CinemaSerf 7/10 Jul 07, 2024
"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.

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