They Were Expendable (1945) | |
| Director(s) | John Ford, Robert Montgomery (uncredited) |
| Producer(s) | Cliff Reid (associate), John Ford (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Film Adaptation, War |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, Navy, World War II |
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They Were Expendable Overview:
They Were Expendable (1945) was a War - Drama Film directed by John Ford and Robert Montgomery and produced by John Ford and Cliff Reid.
SYNOPSIS
Ford returned from making wartime documentaries when he was convinced that this wouldn't be just another war movie. It isn't. It is an inspiring, bleak tribute to the quiet dignity and courage of the American military even as they faced certain defeat in the early days of the Pacific campaign. The true story details America's PT-boat squadrons supporting the naval war in the Philippines. Montgomery (based on real-life Medal of Honor winner John Bulkeley) commands the boats and Wayne learns the importance of duty and sacrifice as a PT-boat officer. Wayne and Reed have a sweet, tender romance when he's ordered to sick bay. Ford agreed to the movie after meeting Bulkeley at Normandy. His direction was so impassioned he fell from a scaffold and broke his leg; Montgomery finished the last two weeks of shooting (and went on to direct a few interesting features and much TV).
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
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BlogHub Articles:
1001 Classic Movies: They Were Expendable
By Amanda Garrett on Aug 22, 2016 From Old Hollywood FilmsThey Were Expendable (1945), starring John Wayne, Donna Reed, and Robert Montgomery, is one of the 1001 classic movies you should see. Each Monday, I'm going to recommend a classic movie you should see (for the reasons behind the 1001 series and reviews of earlier films covered go here). August's... Read full article
They Were Expendable (1945)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 27, 2015 From 4 Star FilmsThere’s nothing very intriguing about a film entitled They Were Expendable. In essence, we already know what the conclusion of the film is, however it is important to understand the context of ?when this John Ford World War II docudrama was coming out. In 1945 the Nazis and Japanese had finall... Read full article
They Were Expendable (1945)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 27, 2015 From 4 Star FilmsThere’s nothing very intriguing about a film entitled They Were Expendable. In essence, we already know what the conclusion of the film is, however it is important to understand the context of when this John Ford World War II docudrama was coming out. In 1945 the Nazis and Japanese had finally... Read full article
They Were Expendable (1945)
By Beatrice on Dec 30, 2014 From Flickers in TimeThey Were Expendable Directed by John Ford Written by Frank Wead?from the book by William L. White Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer First viewing/Netflix rental This be the verse you ‘grave for me: / Here he lies where he long’d to be; / Home is the sailor, home from the sea, / And the hunter hom... Read full article
Veracity: They Were Expendable
By Duke Mantee on Nov 4, 2012 From SpoilersThey Were Expendable tells the story of a PT boat squadron, who feel left out of the war. PT boats are small and not long-range like carriers, and as such, were not used initially in important missions. This film centers on a squadron leader, Robert Montgomery, trying to prove the usefulness of his ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: Listen sister, I don't dance!
Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: Are you kidding, Brick?
Lt. John Brickley: Theirs not to reason why. Theirs but to do...
Lt. 'Rusty' Ryan: And die... but I don't want to be bored to death running messages!
Lt. John Brickley: I'll see that you get the more intriguing ones.
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Facts about
Filmed in Miami, the closing shot with the lighthouse is the Cape Florida Lighthouse, in what is today the Cape Florida State Park. The lighthouse withstood and was the scene of an Seminole Indian attack in 1835.
"Dad" Knowlton, the shipwright who repairs the PT boats, has a poignant little scene in which he refuses to leave the place he's lived and worked for forty years, although the Japanese are advancing. Rusty Ryan, John Wayne's character, finally leaves Dad sitting alone on his porch with a rifle in his hands and a jug of moonshine between his knees, as "Red River Valley" plays in the background. How eerily reminiscent of The Grapes of Wrath, which is particularly appropriate because Dad is played by Russell Simpson, whom John Ford directed as Pa Joad in 1940.
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