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They Were Expendable

A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!

  • Movie
  • 1945
  • NR
  • 2h 15m

Directed by John Ford

6.5

TMDB audience rating
6.5 out of 10 from 141 votes

Where to watch Trailer

Overview

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.

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Trailer

Play trailer: Trailer

Official video hosted on YouTube. The player loads only when you press play.

Cast and crew

  • Robert Montgomery

    Robert MontgomeryLt. John Brickley

  • John Wayne

    John WayneLt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

  • Donna Reed

    Donna ReedLt. Sandy Davyss

  • Jack Holt

    Jack HoltGeneral Martin

  • Ward Bond

    Ward Bond"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

  • Marshall Thompson

    Marshall ThompsonEns. 'Snake' Gardner

  • Paul Langton

    Paul LangtonEns. 'Andy' Andrews

  • Leon Ames

    Leon AmesMajor James Morton

  • Arthur Walsh

    Arthur WalshSeaman Jones

  • Donald Curtis

    Donald CurtisLt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

  • Cameron Mitchell

    Cameron MitchellEns. George Cross

  • Louis Jean Heydt

    Louis Jean Heydt'Ohio'

  • Jeff York

    Jeff YorkEns. Tony Aiken

  • Murray Alper

    Murray Alper'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c

  • Harry Tenbrook

    Harry Tenbrook'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c

  • Jack Pennick

    Jack Pennick'Doc'

  • Alex Havier

    Alex Havier'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c

  • Charles Trowbridge

    Charles TrowbridgeAdmiral Blackwell

Director
John Ford
Writer
Frank Wead and Christina Stead
Music
Herbert Stothart
Cinematography
Joseph H. August