They Were Expendable
A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!
6.5(138) 1945-12-07 135 minDramaWar
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.
DirectorJohn Ford
ScreenplayFrank Wead
ProducerJohn Ford
Original Music ComposerHerbert Stothart
ScreenplayChristina Stead
Cast & characters
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)
