Sources

They Were Expendable

1945
6.5 ⭐
2h 15m
Drama
War
"A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!"

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.

Cast & Crew
Robert Montgomery
Robert MontgomeryLt. John Brickley
John Wayne
John WayneLt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
Donna Reed
Donna ReedLt. Sandy Davyss
Jack Holt
Jack HoltGeneral Martin
Ward Bond
Ward Bond"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
Marshall Thompson
Marshall ThompsonEns. 'Snake' Gardner
Paul Langton
Paul LangtonEns. 'Andy' Andrews
Leon Ames
Leon AmesMajor James Morton
Arthur Walsh
Arthur WalshSeaman Jones
Donald Curtis
Donald CurtisLt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
Cameron Mitchell
Cameron MitchellEns. George Cross
Louis Jean Heydt
Louis Jean Heydt'Ohio'