They Were Expendable

Infobox_Film
name = They Were Expendable


caption =
director = John Ford
producer = John Ford
writer = William L. White (book)
Frank Wead (screenplay)
starring = Robert Montgomery
John Wayne
Donna Reed
Jack Holt
Ward Bond
Marshall Thompson
music = Herbert Stothart
cinematography = Joseph H. August
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = December 20, 1945
runtime = 135 min
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:49432
imdb_id = 0038160

"They Were Expendable" is a war film released in 1945. The movie was directed by John Ford and starred Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, and Donna Reed. This film is considered by some to be one of Wayne's best performances, and even though Montgomery received top billing, Wayne garnered more screen time.

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.

Plot summary

The film opens with a demonstration of the capabilities of PT boats in Manila Bay on the day Pearl Harbor is bombed. Ryan becomes disgusted when his superiors refuse to see them as viable naval craft and is in the process of writing his request for a transfer when war breaks out.

Ryan and Brickley's 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 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 MacArthur, his family, and a party of VIP's.

This done, they resume their attacks against the Japanese, who gradually whittle the squadron down. As boats are lost, their crews are sent to join the guerrilla resistance. 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.

Cast

* Robert Montgomery as Lieutenant John Brickley (as Robert Montgomery Commander U.S.N.R.)
* John Wayne as Lieutenant (j.g.) 'Rusty' Ryan
* Donna Reed as 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'

Production

According to Ben Mankiewicz, a host of Turner Classic Movies, Ford, a well-known taskmaster, was especially hard on Wayne, who did not serve in the armed forces, during filming. When Ford had health problems, he turned to Montgomery, who had enlisted in the navy, to take over for him, rather than Wayne. Montgomery did so well, he was directing in his own right within a couple of years.

Academy Award nominations

The film earned two Academy Award nominations, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Recording.

ee also

* John Wayne filmography (1941-1960)

External links

*tcmdb title|id=2070|title=They Were Expendable
* [http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes/They_Were_Expendable.html "They Were Expendable": A Critique of John Ford's 1945 War Film]