They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable

1945 · 2 hr 15 min · Approved

Drama, War

Directors

John Ford, Robert Montgomery

Actors

  • Robert Montgomery
  • John Wayne
  • Donna Reed

Credits: 1

Summary

A Navy commander fights to prove the battle-worthiness of the PT boat at the start of World War II.

More about this movie

In the wake of Pearl Harbor's surprise attack, World War II hero, Lt. John Brickley's experimental squadron of agile fast-attack Patrol Torpedo boats is sent to warm and humid Manila to avert a potentially imminent Japanese invasion. As he and his second-in-command, Lieutenant "Rusty" Ryan, desperately try to prove the newly-founded naval unit's worth, the enemy launches a devastating all-out attack--and despite the PT boat flotilla's undeniable success--the considerably outnumbered and outgunned American soldiers are fighting a losing battle. Little by little, the Philippine campaign is doomed to cave in, as comrades-in-arms perish in the sea. Is there glory in defeat?