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They Were Expendable
Film / 1945

They Were Expendable

Directed by John Ford
DramaWar

★ 6.5/10Audience rating

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.

The story

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.

Cast

Robert MontgomeryLt. John Brickley John WayneLt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan Donna ReedLt. Sandy Davyss Jack HoltGeneral Martin Ward Bond"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate Marshall ThompsonEns. 'Snake' Gardner Paul LangtonEns. 'Andy' Andrews Leon AmesMajor James Morton Arthur WalshSeaman Jones Donald CurtisLt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long Cameron MitchellEns. George Cross Louis Jean Heydt'Ohio'
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Jeff YorkEns. Tony Aiken Murray Alper'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c Harry Tenbrook'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c Jack Pennick'Doc' Alex Havier'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c Charles TrowbridgeAdmiral Blackwell Robert BarratThe General Bruce KelloggElder Tompkins M.M. 2c Tim MurdockEns. Brant Russell Simpson'Dad' Knowland Vernon SteeleArmy Doctor Robert Emmett O'ConnorSilver Dollar Bartender (uncredited) Philip AhnArmy Orderly (uncredited) Steve BarclayNaval Officer (uncredited) Betty BlytheOfficer's Wife (uncredited) Danny BorzageBoat Crew Member (uncredited) Al BridgeLieutenant Colonel (uncredited) George BruggemanMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) James CarlisleMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Jack CarringtonOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Bruce CarruthersMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Tony CarsonMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Jack CheathamCommander (uncredited) Fred CobyOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Roger ColeOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Jane CrowleyOfficer's Wife (uncredited) Henry H. Daniels Jr.Sailor (uncredited) William B. DavidsonHotel Manager (uncredited) Marjorie DaviesNurse (uncredited) Larry DodsBoat Crew Member (uncredited) William 'Red' DonahueOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Blake EdwardsBoat Crewman (uncredited) Frank EldredgeOfficer at Airport (uncredited) John EpperOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Jim Farley(uncredited) Charles FergusonOfficer at Airport (uncredited) Lee Tung FooAsian Bartender (uncredited) Art FosterBoat Crew Member (uncredited) Almeda FowlerOfficer's Wife (uncredited) Mary Jane FrenchLost Nurse (uncredited) Jon Gilbreath'Snuffy' Submarine Commander (uncredited) James GonzalezSailor (uncredited) Duke GreenPT-41 Boat Starboard Torpedoman (uncredited) Sherry HallMarine Major (uncredited) Stuart HallBar Patron (uncredited) Robert HomansBartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited) Michael KirbyBoat Crewman (uncredited) Michael KostrickMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Paul KrugerMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Stubby KrugerBoat Crewman (uncredited) Jack LeeMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Jack LorenzMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Leota LorraineOfficer's Wife (uncredited) Jack LudenNaval Air Captain (uncredited) James MagillMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) George MagrillMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Eve MarchNurse (uncredited) Maurice MarksSoldier (uncredited) Kermit MaynardAirport Officer (uncredited) Merrill McCormickWounded Officer at Airport (uncredited) Frank McGrath'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited) Leonard MellinMan in Admiral's Office (uncredited) Robert MilaschMinor Role (uncredited) Henry MirelezFilipino Boy (uncredited) Jack MowerOfficer (uncredited) Charles Murray Jr.Jeep Driver (uncredited) Forbes MurrayNavy Captain (uncredited) Bill NeffSubmarine Skipper / Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

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