They Were Expendable **** (1945, John Wayne, Robert Montgomery, Donna Reed, Jack Holt, Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson) – Classic Movie Review 11,493

Director John Ford’s 1945 American war film They Were Expendable is a moving wartime salute to the torpedo crews in the Pacific during World War Two, made by a production team still fresh from the naval battlefront. At the head of Ford’s sterling stock-company cast, John Wayne gives his usual heroic performance as Lieutenant Rusty Ryan, while Robert Montgomery is much better than expected as Lieutenant John Brickley.

Overcoming their stereotypes, Ward Bond plays Boats Mulcahey, the gnarled ship’s mate, Marshall Thompson is Ensign Snake Gardner, the callow youngster, Jack Holt is General Martin, and Donna Reed is Second Lieutenant Sandy Davys, the gal for Wayne.

There is plenty of strong feeling (though no false heroics) in Frank Wead’s sterling screenplay, based on a 1942 book by William Lindsay White, and cameraman Joseph H August provides some stunning images.

Confusingly, both the film and the book relate events that did not occur, but were believed to be real in WW2, though the film is noted for its closeness to the truth in its depiction of naval combat. It tells the story of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three, a PT boat unit defending the Philippines against Japanese invasion in the Battle of the Philippines (1941–42) in World War Two.

The book is a work of fiction based on actual events and people. John Brickley and Rusty Ryan are fictional versions of John D Bulkeley and Robert Kelly.

Also in the cast are Paul Langton as Ensign Andy Andrews, Leon Ames as Major James Morton, Arthur Walsh as Seaman Jones, Donald Curtis as Lieutenant Shorty Long/ Radio Announcer, Cameron Mitchell as Ensign George Cross, Jeff York as Ensign Tony Aiken, Murray Alper as Slug Mahan, Harry Tenbrook as Squarehead Larsen, Jack Pennick as Doc’ Alex Havier as Benny Lecoco, Charles Trowbridge as Admiral Blackwell, Robert Barrat as The General, Bruce Kellogg as Elder Tompkins, Tim Murdock as Ensign Brant, Louis Jean Heydt as Ohio, Russell Simpson as Dad Knowland, Vernon Steele as Army Doctor, Philip Ahn, Betty Blythe, Al Bridge, John Carlyle, Jack Cheatham, Pedro de Cordoba, William B Davidson, Blake Edwards, John Epper, Jim Farley, Wallace Ford, Sherry Hall, Robert Homans, Paul Kruger, Kermit Maynard, Frank McGarth, Jack Mower, Forbes Murray, Robert Emmett O’Connor, Nino Piptone Jr, Jack Semple, Reginald Simpson, Larry Steers, Dick Thorne, Jack Trent, Tom Tyler, Emmett Vogan, and Bad Luck as ship’s cat.

The film had extensive support from the US Navy Department, and was shot in Key Biscayne, Florida, and the Florida Keys.

MGM asked Ford to direct a film based on the book but he initially repeatedly declined as he was serving in the US Navy Field Photographic Unit. He met Lieutenant John D Bulkeley during the preparation for the Normandy Invasion.

Ford fell from scaffolding and broke his leg, and got Montgomery to take over. Ford was hard on Wayne, who did not serve in the armed forces. In a possible insult to Wayne, Ford is credited as John Ford, Captain U.S.N.R, Wead is credited as Frank Wead Comdr. U.S.N., Ret, and Montgomery is credited as Robert Montgomery Comdr. U.S.N.R. Montgomery commanded a PT boat in WW2 and was Bulkeley’s former executive officer.

There were no Oscar wins, but Douglas Shearer was nominated for the Oscar for Best Sound Recording, while A. Arnold Gillespie, Donald Jahraus, R. A. MacDonald and Michael Steinore were nominated for Best Effects.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,493

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