They Were Expendable (1945)

My Review

“They Were Expendable” is the true story of an American PT boat squadron stationed in Manila at the time of Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. They defended the Philippines against overwhelming Japanese forces in the early days of World War II. Director John Ford (“Stagecoach” 1939) and screenwriter Frank Wead put together a fine war picture with great production values and memorable performances.

The cast includes Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Jack Holt, Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, Leon Ames, Cameron Mitchell, and Charles Trowbridge as Rear Admiral Blackwell. “They Were Expendable” was a big hit at the box office for producer John Ford and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. This was the third of fourteen John Ford films that John Wayne appeared in. It received two Oscar nods for Best Sound Recording and Best Special Effects.