They Were Expendable poster

They Were Expendable

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

6.5(140)19452h 15m3

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.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
—
Language
English
  • navy
  • based on novel or book
  • world war ii
  • pearl harbor
  • philippines
  • pacific war
  • pacific theater
  • bataan
  • 1940s
  • corregidor

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

John Ford

Produced in

United States of America

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereNRWashington, D.C.19 Dec 1945
    • TheatricalNew York20 Dec 1945
    • Theatrical31 Dec 1945
  • United KingdomGB

    • TheatricalLondon7 Dec 1945
  • AustriaAT

    • Theatrical121 Jul 1956
  • BrazilBR

    • Theatricale Livre1 Jan 1946
  • FranceFR

    • Theatrical20 Apr 1949
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1222 May 1956
    • TV22 Apr 1976

Frequently asked questions

They Were Expendable was released on 7 December 1945.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    7/7/2024

    7/10

    "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 r…

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