They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable is a war film released in 1945, directed by John Ford.
The film is based on the book by William L. White, relating the story of the exploits of John D. Bulkeley, a motor torpedo boat squadron commander and Medal of Honor recipient, and Robert Kelly, a skipper, during the World War II Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941–1942. The characters of John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and Rusty Ryan (John Wayne) are fictionalized name changes of the actual subjects. While both book and film depict actions which did not occur, they were believed to be real during the war and the film is noted for its verisimilitude.

The film opens with a demonstration of the capabilities of PT boats in Manila Bay in December 1941. Lieutenant J.G. 'Rusty' Ryan (John Wayne) becomes disgusted when his superiors refuse to see the small boats as viable naval craft and is in the process of writing his request for a transfer when news arrives of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ryan and Lt. John Brickley's (Robert Montgomery) demands for combat assignments for their squadron are frustrated for a time, but they are eventually allowed to show their capabilities. From there on, there are mostly 'action' scenes, with the exception of Ryan's romantic interludes with Army nurse Sandy Davyss (Donna Reed). With the mounting Japanese onslaught against the doomed American garrisons at Bataan and Corregidor, the squadron is sent to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur, his family, and a party of VIPs.

This done, they resume their attacks against the Japanese, who gradually whittle down the squadron. As boats are lost, their crews are sent to fight as infantry. Finally, the last boat is turned over to the Army for messenger duty. Brickley, Ryan and two ensigns are airlifted out on one of the last planes because the PT boats have proved their worth. The remaining men, led by Mulcahey, are left behind to continue the fight.

• Robert Montgomery as Lieutenant John Brickley
• John Wayne as Lieutenant (j.g.) 'Rusty' Ryan
• Donna Reed as 2nd Lieutenant Sandy Davyss
• Jack Holt as General Martin
• Ward Bond as BMC 'Boats' Mulcahey
• Marshall Thompson as Ensign 'Snake' Gardner
• Paul Langton as Ensign 'Andy' Andrews
• Leon Ames as Major James Morton
• Arthur Walsh as Seaman Jones
• Donald Curtis as Lieutenant (j.g.) 'Shorty' Long
• Cameron Mitchell as Ensign George Cross
• Jeff York as Ensign Tony Aiken
• Murray Alper as 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
• Harry Tenbrook as 'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
• Jack Pennick as 'Doc'

Directed by	John Ford
Produced by	John Ford
Written by	William L. White (book) Frank Wead (screenplay)
Starring	Robert Montgomery John Wayne Donna Reed Jack Holt Ward Bond Marshall Thompson
Music by	Herbert Stothart
Cinematography	Joseph H. August
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s)	December 20, 1945
Running time	135 min
Language	English

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(IMDb/wikipedia)