They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable (1945)

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

  • Genre: Drama, War
  • Release Date: 1945-12-07
  • User Rating: 6.5/10 from 111 ratings
  • Runtime: 2h 15min
  • Language: English
  • Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Director: John Ford
star 6.5/10
From 111 Ratings
7.2

Summary

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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  • Robert Montgomery

    as Lt. John Brickley
  • John Wayne

    as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
  • Donna Reed

    as Lt. Sandy Davyss
  • Jack Holt

    as General Martin
  • Ward Bond

    as "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
  • Marshall Thompson

    as Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
  • Paul Langton

    as Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
  • Leon Ames

    as Major James Morton
  • Arthur Walsh

    as Seaman Jones
  • Donald Curtis

    as Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
  • Cameron Mitchell

    as Ens. George Cross
  • Louis Jean Heydt

    as 'Ohio'
  • Jeff York

    as Ens. Tony Aiken
  • Murray Alper

    as 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
  • Harry Tenbrook

    as 'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
  • Jack Pennick

    as 'Doc'
  • Alex Havier

    as 'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c
  • Charles Trowbridge

    as Admiral Blackwell
  • Robert Barrat

    as The General
  • Bruce Kellogg

    as Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c
  • Tim Murdock

    as Ens. Brant
  • Russell Simpson

    as 'Dad' Knowland
  • Vernon Steele

    as Army Doctor
  • Robert Emmett O'Connor

    as Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)
  • Philip Ahn

    as Army Orderly (uncredited)
  • Steve Barclay

    as Naval Officer (uncredited)
  • Betty Blythe

    as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
  • Danny Borzage

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Al Bridge

    as Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)
  • George Bruggeman

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • James Carlisle

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Jack Carrington

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Bruce Carruthers

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Tony Carson

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Jack Cheatham

    as Commander (uncredited)
  • Fred Coby

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Roger Cole

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Jane Crowley

    as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
  • Henry H. Daniels Jr.

    as Sailor (uncredited)
  • William B. Davidson

    as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
  • Marjorie Davies

    as Nurse (uncredited)
  • Larry Dods

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • William 'Red' Donahue

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Blake Edwards

    as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
  • Frank Eldredge

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • John Epper

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Jim Farley

    as (uncredited)
  • Charles Ferguson

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Lee Tung Foo

    as Asian Bartender (uncredited)
  • Art Foster

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Almeda Fowler

    as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
  • Mary Jane French

    as Lost Nurse (uncredited)
  • Jon Gilbreath

    as 'Snuffy' Submarine Commander (uncredited)
  • James Gonzalez

    as Sailor (uncredited)
  • Duke Green

    as PT-41 Boat Starboard Torpedoman (uncredited)
  • Sherry Hall

    as Marine Major (uncredited)
  • Stuart Hall

    as Bar Patron (uncredited)
  • Robert Homans

    as Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)
  • Michael Kirby

    as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
  • Michael Kostrick

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Paul Kruger

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Stubby Kruger

    as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
  • Jack Lee

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Jack Lorenz

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Leota Lorraine

    as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
  • Jack Luden

    as Naval Air Captain (uncredited)
  • James Magill

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • George Magrill

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Eve March

    as Nurse (uncredited)
  • Maurice Marks

    as Soldier (uncredited)
  • Kermit Maynard

    as Airport Officer (uncredited)
  • Merrill McCormick

    as Wounded Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Frank McGrath

    as 'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)
  • Leonard Mellin

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Robert Milasch

    as Minor Role (uncredited)
  • Henry Mirelez

    as Filipino Boy (uncredited)
  • Jack Mower

    as Officer (uncredited)
  • Charles Murray Jr.

    as Jeep Driver (uncredited)
  • Forbes Murray

    as Navy Captain (uncredited)
  • Bill Neff

    as Submarine Skipper / Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Bill Nind

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Wedgwood Nowell

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Franklin Parker

    as Naval Officer (uncredited)
  • Frank Pershing

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Nino Pipitone Jr.

    as Bartender's Child (uncredited)
  • Dan Quigg

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Joey Ray

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • William McKeever Riley

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Jack Ross

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • John Roy

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Harold Schlickenmayer

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Phil Schumacher

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Jack Semple

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Sam Simone

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Reginald Simpson

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Leslie Sketchley

    as Marine Orderly (uncredited)
  • Ralph Soncuya

    as Filipino Orderly (uncredited)
  • Larry Steers

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Sammy Stein

    as Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)
  • Jack Stoney

    as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
  • Robert Strong

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Bob Thom

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Richard Thorne

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Brad Towne

    as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
  • Jack Trent

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Tom Tyler

    as Captain at Airport (uncredited)
  • Emmett Vogan

    as Naval Doctor (uncredited)
  • Eleanore Vogel

    as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
  • Hansel Warner

    as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
  • Billy Wilkerson

    as Sgt. Smith (uncredited)
  • Roque Ybarra Jr.

    as Bartender's Child (uncredited)
Directing John Ford Director
Writing Frank Wead Screenplay
Writing William L. White Book
Editing Douglass Biggs Editor
Editing Frank E. Hull Editor
Production John Ford Producer
Art Edwin B. Willis Set Decoration
Sound Herbert Stothart Original Music Composer
Art Cedric Gibbons Art Direction
Directing Edward O'Fearna Assistant Director
Art Malcolm Brown Art Direction
Costume & Make-Up Yvonne Wood Costume Design
Camera Joseph H. August Director of Photography
Costume & Make-Up Jack Dawn Makeup & Hair
Crew A. Arnold Gillespie Special Effects

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