They Were Expendable poster

They Were Expendable( 1945)

TV-MADramaWar
65%
User
Score

A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!

Overview

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.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      Robert Montgomery

      Lt. John Brickley

    2. cast image

      John Wayne

      Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

    3. cast image

      Donna Reed

      Lt. Sandy Davyss

    4. cast image

      Jack Holt

      General Martin

    5. cast image

      Ward Bond

      "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

    6. cast image

      Marshall Thompson

      Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

    7. cast image

      Paul Langton

      Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

    8. cast image

      Leon Ames

      Major James Morton

    9. cast image

      Arthur Walsh

      Seaman Jones

    10. cast image

      Donald Curtis

      Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

    11. cast image

      Cameron Mitchell

      Ens. George Cross

    12. cast image

      Louis Jean Heydt

      'Ohio'

    13. cast image

      Jeff York

      Ens. Tony Aiken

    14. cast image

      Murray Alper

      'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c

    15. cast image

      Harry Tenbrook

      'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c

    16. cast image

      Jack Pennick

      'Doc'

    17. cast image

      Alex Havier

      'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c

    18. cast image

      Charles Trowbridge

      Admiral Blackwell

    19. cast image

      Robert Barrat

      The General

    20. cast image

      Bruce Kellogg

      Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c

    21. cast image

      Tim Murdock

      Ens. Brant

    22. cast image

      Russell Simpson

      'Dad' Knowland

    23. cast image

      Vernon Steele

      Army Doctor

    24. cast image

      Robert Emmett O'Connor

      Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)

    25. cast image

      Philip Ahn

      Army Orderly (uncredited)

    26. cast image

      Steve Barclay

      Naval Officer (uncredited)

    27. cast image

      Betty Blythe

      Officer's Wife (uncredited)

    28. cast image

      Danny Borzage

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    29. cast image

      Al Bridge

      Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)

    30. cast image

      George Bruggeman

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    31. cast image

      James Carlisle

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    32. cast image

      Jack Carrington

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    33. cast image

      Bruce Carruthers

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    34. cast image

      Tony Carson

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    35. cast image

      Jack Cheatham

      Commander (uncredited)

    36. cast image

      Fred Coby

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    37. cast image

      Roger Cole

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    38. cast image

      Jane Crowley

      Officer's Wife (uncredited)

    39. cast image

      Henry H. Daniels Jr.

      Sailor (uncredited)

    40. cast image

      William B. Davidson

      Hotel Manager (uncredited)

    41. cast image

      Marjorie Davies

      Nurse (uncredited)

    42. cast image

      Larry Dods

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    43. cast image

      William 'Red' Donahue

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    44. cast image

      Blake Edwards

      Boat Crewman (uncredited)

    45. cast image

      Frank Eldredge

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    46. cast image

      John Epper

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    47. cast image

      Jim Farley

      (uncredited)

    48. cast image

      Charles Ferguson

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    49. cast image

      Lee Tung Foo

      Asian Bartender (uncredited)

    50. cast image

      Art Foster

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    51. cast image

      Almeda Fowler

      Officer's Wife (uncredited)

    52. cast image

      Mary Jane French

      Lost Nurse (uncredited)

    53. cast image

      Jon Gilbreath

      'Snuffy' Submarine Commander (uncredited)

    54. cast image

      James Gonzalez

      Sailor (uncredited)

    55. cast image

      Duke Green

      PT-41 Boat Starboard Torpedoman (uncredited)

    56. cast image

      Sherry Hall

      Marine Major (uncredited)

    57. cast image

      Stuart Hall

      Bar Patron (uncredited)

    58. cast image

      Robert Homans

      Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)

    59. cast image

      Michael Kirby

      Boat Crewman (uncredited)

    60. cast image

      Michael Kostrick

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    61. cast image

      Paul Kruger

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    62. cast image

      Stubby Kruger

      Boat Crewman (uncredited)

    63. cast image

      Jack Lee

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    64. cast image

      Jack Lorenz

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    65. cast image

      Leota Lorraine

      Officer's Wife (uncredited)

    66. cast image

      Jack Luden

      Naval Air Captain (uncredited)

    67. cast image

      James Magill

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    68. cast image

      George Magrill

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    69. cast image

      Eve March

      Nurse (uncredited)

    70. cast image

      Maurice Marks

      Soldier (uncredited)

    71. cast image

      Kermit Maynard

      Airport Officer (uncredited)

    72. cast image

      Merrill McCormick

      Wounded Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    73. cast image

      Frank McGrath

      'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)

    74. cast image

      Leonard Mellin

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    75. cast image

      Robert Milasch

      Minor Role (uncredited)

    76. cast image

      Henry Mirelez

      Filipino Boy (uncredited)

    77. cast image

      Jack Mower

      Officer (uncredited)

    78. cast image

      Charles Murray Jr.

      Jeep Driver (uncredited)

    79. cast image

      Forbes Murray

      Navy Captain (uncredited)

    80. cast image

      Bill Neff

      Submarine Skipper / Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    81. cast image

      Bill Nind

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    82. cast image

      Wedgwood Nowell

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    83. cast image

      Franklin Parker

      Naval Officer (uncredited)

    84. cast image

      Frank Pershing

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    85. cast image

      Nino Pipitone Jr.

      Bartender's Child (uncredited)

    86. cast image

      Dan Quigg

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    87. cast image

      Joey Ray

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    88. cast image

      William McKeever Riley

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    89. cast image

      Jack Ross

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    90. cast image

      John Roy

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    91. cast image

      Harold Schlickenmayer

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    92. cast image

      Phil Schumacher

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    93. cast image

      Jack Semple

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    94. cast image

      Sam Simone

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    95. cast image

      Reginald Simpson

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    96. cast image

      Leslie Sketchley

      Marine Orderly (uncredited)

    97. cast image

      Ralph Soncuya

      Filipino Orderly (uncredited)

    98. cast image

      Larry Steers

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    99. cast image

      Sammy Stein

      Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)

    100. cast image

      Jack Stoney

      Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

    101. cast image

      Robert Strong

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    102. cast image

      Bob Thom

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    103. cast image

      Richard Thorne

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    104. cast image

      Brad Towne

      Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

    105. cast image

      Jack Trent

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    106. cast image

      Tom Tyler

      Captain at Airport (uncredited)

    107. cast image

      Emmett Vogan

      Naval Doctor (uncredited)

    108. cast image

      Eleanore Vogel

      Officer's Wife (uncredited)

    109. cast image

      Hansel Warner

      Officer at Airport (uncredited)

    110. cast image

      Billy Wilkerson

      Sgt. Smith (uncredited)

    111. cast image

      Roque Ybarra Jr.

      Bartender's Child (uncredited)

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    7
    Written by CinemaSerf on Sun Jul 07 2024
    "Brick" (Robert Montgomery) is an US Navy lieutenant desperate to prove that his motorised torpedo boats can do more for the war effort than deliver the mail. Luckily, he's got "Rusty" (John Wayne) as his number two and plenty of opportunity to test their theories against the advancing Japanese as with things looking terrible for the Americans in Manila, they have their work cut out for them. Even though things are relentless and perilous, "Rusty" still finds time for a little romance with nurse "Sandy" (Donna Reed) and we've also got Ward Bond and a lively few scenes from "Dad" (Russell Simpso...

    Media

    Videos 3Backdrops 6Posters 26

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    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • navy
    • based on novel or book
    • world war ii
    • pearl harbor
    • philippines
    • pacific war
    • pacific theater
    • 1940s