They Were Expendable
1945 · 2h 15m · Drama, War
Watch it tonight if you respect classic cinema and want to see John Ford's visceral take on naval warfare with Robert Montgomery and John Wayne firing on all cylinders. This is a legitimately gripping war drama that proves its worth as decisively as those PT boats do in combat—skip it only if you need spectacle over substance.
Plot
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.
Director: John Ford
Cast: Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Jack Holt, Ward Bond