Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysLGBTQ+ Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

They Were Expendable

  • 19451945
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 15m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
John Wayne, Donna Reed, and Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
The PT boat unit Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three defends the Philippines from Japanese invasion during World War II.
Play trailer1:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • War
A Navy commander fights to prove the battle-worthiness of the PT boat at the start of World War II.A Navy commander fights to prove the battle-worthiness of the PT boat at the start of World War II.A Navy commander fights to prove the battle-worthiness of the PT boat at the start of World War II.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.4K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • John Ford
    • Robert Montgomery(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • William L. White(book)
    • Frank Wead(screenplay)
    • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Robert Montgomery
    • John Wayne
    • Donna Reed
Top credits
  • Directors
    • John Ford
    • Robert Montgomery(uncredited)
  • Writers
    • William L. White(book)
    • Frank Wead(screenplay)
    • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Robert Montgomery
    • John Wayne
    • Donna Reed
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 101User reviews
    • 34Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 nominations total

    Videos1

    Original Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 1:36
    Original Theatrical Trailer

    Photos106

    John Wayne and Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Paul Langton in They Were Expendable (1945)
    John Wayne and Donna Reed in They Were Expendable (1945)
    John Wayne and Donna Reed in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Donald Curtis in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Donna Reed in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Marshall Thompson in They Were Expendable (1945)
    They Were Expendable (1945)
    Paul Langton and Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Ward Bond and Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Robert Montgomery
    Robert Montgomery
    • Lt. John Brickleyas Lt. John Brickley
    • (as Robert Montgomery Comdr. U.S.N.R.)
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    • Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryanas Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
    Donna Reed
    Donna Reed
    • Lt. Sandy Davyssas Lt. Sandy Davyss
    Jack Holt
    Jack Holt
    • Gen. Martinas Gen. Martin
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.as 'Boats' Mulcahey C.B.M.
    Marshall Thompson
    Marshall Thompson
    • Ens. 'Snake' Gardneras Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
    Paul Langton
    Paul Langton
    • Ens. 'Andy' Andrewsas Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
    Leon Ames
    Leon Ames
    • Maj. James Mortonas Maj. James Morton
    Arthur Walsh
    • Seaman Jonesas Seaman Jones
    Donald Curtis
    Donald Curtis
    • Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Longas Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long…
    Cameron Mitchell
    Cameron Mitchell
    • Ens. George Crossas Ens. George Cross
    Jeff York
    Jeff York
    • Ens. Tony Aikenas Ens. Tony Aiken
    Murray Alper
    Murray Alper
    • 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1cas 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
    Harry Tenbrook
    Harry Tenbrook
    • 'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2cas 'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
    Jack Pennick
    Jack Pennick
    • 'Doc'as 'Doc'
    Alex Havier
    • 'Benny' Lecoco ST 3cas 'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c
    Charles Trowbridge
    Charles Trowbridge
    • Adm. Blackwellas Adm. Blackwell
    Robert Barrat
    Robert Barrat
    • The Generalas The General
    • Directors
      • John Ford
      • Robert Montgomery(uncredited)
    • Writers
      • William L. White(book)
      • Frank Wead(screenplay)
      • Norman Corwin(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    More like this

    Flying Leathernecks
    6.3
    Flying Leathernecks
    Operation Pacific
    6.6
    Operation Pacific
    Back to Bataan
    6.6
    Back to Bataan
    Sands of Iwo Jima
    7.0
    Sands of Iwo Jima
    The Fighting Seabees
    6.4
    The Fighting Seabees
    Flying Tigers
    6.7
    Flying Tigers
    Fort Apache
    7.4
    Fort Apache
    The Wings of Eagles
    6.6
    The Wings of Eagles
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    7.2
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    3 Godfathers
    7.1
    3 Godfathers
    Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
    7.2
    Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
    Destination Tokyo
    7.1
    Destination Tokyo

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Robert Montgomery was a real-life PT skipper in World War 2. He helped direct some of the PT sequences for the film when John Ford broke his leg three weeks into filming. Montgomery finished the film and was complimented by Ford for his work. Ford claimed he couldn't tell the difference between his footage and Montgomery's, who took no screen credit.
    • Goofs
      Both American aircraft shown in the film (a Piper J5A observation plane and a Douglas C-47 transport) carry the national insignia markings of a white star in a blue roundel, which was authorized on August 18, 1942. This is incorrect for the period depicted in the film (early December 1941 through late April 1942), when U.S. insignia was a white star inside a blue roundel with a red ball in the middle of the white star.
    • Quotes

      Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: [as they watch the inspectors drive away] Wonderful the way people believe in those high powered canoes of yours.

      Lt. John Brickley: Don't you believe in them, Rusty?

      Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: And I let you sell me that stuff about a command of my own.

      Lt. John Brickley: You're skipper of the 34 boat, aren't you?

      Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: I used to skipper a cake of soap in the bathtub, too.

      [He walks off]

    • Crazy credits
      Closing quote: "We Shall Return" Douglas MacArthur, General of the Army
    • Alternate versions
      MGM produced a different version, dubbed and with credits in Spanish, probably to be used by television stations. This version omits the final sequence (nearly more than 15 minutes of running time) and the film ends a previous scene with Robert Montgomery and John Wayne saying farewell to the soldiers that had to remain in the Phillipines, then the scene cuts to a plane leaving the island and to a "The End" title in Spanish. This version aired in Argentina in a cable station called "Space". Turner Network Televsion, in all Latin American countries, used to air the film in its original form. However, they lifted the Spanish language dubbing from the old version and, without any explanation why, the last minutes of the film play in English.
    • Connections
      Edited into Malaya (1949)
    • Soundtracks
      The Monkeys Have No Tails in Zamboanga
      (uncredited)

      Music adapted from the official march of the Philippine Constabulary

      Written by by G. Savoca (lyrics)

      [Sung in the officer's club at the beginning of the movie.]

    User reviews101

    Review
    Top review
    A film about following orders no matter how painful
    One reveiwer critices this film about lack of action he misses the point,all the characters are well developed which makes the ending so painfull. The acting is first rate every part is played with a great belief,,there are so many great scenes that touch the heart.The men are bonded together by their actions and when the bonds are broken through death or orders it hurts us all. Donna Reed is gorgeous to look at ,only a small role but well acted. At the end of the film you feel a lump in your throat and a tear forms in your eye,I love this movie.9/10
    helpful•54
    4
    • chisum
    • Jan 31, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 31, 1945 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zrtvovani
    • Filming locations
      • Key Biscayne, Florida, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 15 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    John Wayne, Donna Reed, and Robert Montgomery in They Were Expendable (1945)
    Top Gap
    By what name was They Were Expendable (1945) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies Coming This Summer
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in June
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.