They Were Expendable

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Film Description

Supplies are dwindling. Troops are hopelessly outnumbered. But even in defeat there is victory. The defenders of the Philippines including PT-boat skippers John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and Rusty Ryan (John Wayne) will give the U.S. war effort time to regroup after the devastation of Pearl Harbor. They Were Expendable salutes all who were sacrificed during some of the war's bleakest hours.

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Review by Lester May on 17th August 2006

This is, to my mind, a much under-rated film - about a little-known aspect of WW2.

The film is about the work of the US Navy PT Boats - small patrol boats, whose unsung and 'pirate-like' activities, were a million miles away from life in the big ships. John Ford himself, as a US Navy Commander in the Pacific in WW2, made this film with real feeling and understanding, and based it on the activities of a USN war hero commanding these boats. Indeed, PT109 was commanded by one Lieutenant John F Kennedy USN, though I am not certain in which Pacific theatre the future President was active.

The film works well as a tribute to some 'unsung heroes'. It is a salute to all, as you say, but moreover it's a salute to a few! It's also testimony to the outstanding work of a great film director; it was, I believe, one of his favourites.

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