There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on November 6, 2016
Good WWII movie with John Wayne playing a second fiddle who wants to solo as a PT boat squad leader. But he'll have to keep up with Robert Montgomery too. Nice to remember a time when we all wanted the same thing and were willing to sacrifice to get it. Now politicians "sacrifice" them-selves and walk away with 50 million dollar foundations honoring their personal glory.
on July 26, 2016
Have seen "They Were Expendable" several times over the years on TV, but nothing prepared me for the sharp quality of this blu ray.
HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERon March 22, 2016
Other than this movie, the only times I remember seeing PT boats were in the 1963 film PT-109 and the 1960s TV sitcom McHale's Navy. But the small, fast PT boats were used extensively by the US Navy in World War II, mostly in the Pacific Theater. They Were Expendable is about the exploits of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, a group of six PT boats that was based in the Philippines at the outset of the war. The movie is based largely on historical ents.
John Wayne as Lieutenant (junior grade) Rusty Ryan and Robert Montgomery as Lieutenant John Brickley give fine performances throughout the film. (If you only recognize Montgomery's voice, you probably heard him as the narrator of the 1960 WWII film The Gallant Hours.) They played actual people, although the screen names were changed. Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, Cameron Mitchell, and Leon Ames are all recognizable actors in the early stages of their careers. And of course, there's Donna Reed, who played Army nurse Sandy Davyss, John Wayne's romantic interest.
It's an enjoyable movie, especially for war movie buffs. With a runtime of 2:15, it's a long one, especially for an era when most films were 1:30-1:45 or so. It could have been shortened by eliminating John Wayne's brief romantic fling with Donna Reed. In my opinion, it didn't add a lot to the film, and it was fated to come to nothing anyway. But Donna Reed was a rising star at the time, and I'm sure the producers thought she would be a big box office draw.
Interestingly enough, in the same year (1945), John Wayne also starred in Back to Bataan, another WWII film set in the Philippines.
John Wayne as Lieutenant (junior grade) Rusty Ryan and Robert Montgomery as Lieutenant John Brickley give fine performances throughout the film. (If you only recognize Montgomery's voice, you probably heard him as the narrator of the 1960 WWII film The Gallant Hours.) They played actual people, although the screen names were changed. Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, Cameron Mitchell, and Leon Ames are all recognizable actors in the early stages of their careers. And of course, there's Donna Reed, who played Army nurse Sandy Davyss, John Wayne's romantic interest.
It's an enjoyable movie, especially for war movie buffs. With a runtime of 2:15, it's a long one, especially for an era when most films were 1:30-1:45 or so. It could have been shortened by eliminating John Wayne's brief romantic fling with Donna Reed. In my opinion, it didn't add a lot to the film, and it was fated to come to nothing anyway. But Donna Reed was a rising star at the time, and I'm sure the producers thought she would be a big box office draw.
Interestingly enough, in the same year (1945), John Wayne also starred in Back to Bataan, another WWII film set in the Philippines.
on June 13, 2016
I have it in the old DVD and the new Blu-ray is great. Worth the upgrade for one of John Ford's best and most heartfelt movies.
on May 31, 2016
This is one of the very few films about the fall of the Philippines. "They Were Expendable" is the perfect title for the way these men were sacrificed for the sake of the European fight. Robert Montgomery is excellent. Many of the John Ford "regulars" are in this film and do a great job but Montgomery's performance anchors the story in realism. The story tells of, Bataan, Corregidor, the running out of supplies - food, medicine, ammunition, the Navy men being re-assigned to the Army, MacArthur's leaving, the nurses (the main nurse in the story is played by Donna Reed).
on December 7, 2016
I believe that this is one of the greatest WW 2 Navy movies there was ever made. John Wayne, Robert Montgomery and the rest of the cast did an excellent job as motor torpedo boat sailors, I have a great uncle that is still on the Battleship Arizona so these kinds of movies hold a special interest to me. these kinds of movies and the thought of my great uncle inspired me to spend 12 years in the Navy. anyone who thinks that movies like this one only get one star and that they are boring well that person is an Idiot!
on November 4, 2016
Great blu-ray transfer. A really great film and the story is never dated. Great cast and if you like this era of film you will love this one..
on August 1, 2016
Excellent digital transfer of this excellent John Ford film that has long been a favourite and now evenmore enjoyable in high definition.
on June 5, 2017
Even though it's not a fact based picture, it's based around the second battle of Leyte Gulf where the "Small Boats" made the difference between winning and loosing the battle and costing thousands of Allied lives.
