They Were Expendable

War

John Wayne
Robert Montgomery
Donna Reed
Ward Bond
Jack Holt

Director

John Ford

It's David vs. Goliath on the seas when Rusty Ryan and John Brickly lead the Navy's new PT boats into the Battle of the Philippines during the early days of WWII. Outgunned and outmanned, the skippers and their crews defy the odds and prove the effectiveness of their highly maneuverable boats. They hit, they run, they return to fight again - and they play a vital role in the holding action that buys valuable time for the U.S. after the crippling attack on Pearl Harbor. Montgomery and Wayne turn in acclaimed performances in this powerful film that is widely recognized as one of director John Ford's all-time greatest works. Scripted by naval Commander Frank Wead and based on the novel by William I. White, it is one of the best contemporary films about the war.