They Were Expendable

A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!

Duration: 135 min
Release date: 1945-12-07
IMDB

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.

Drama War

They Were Expendable

Videos

They Were Expendable They Were Expendable They Were Expendable They Were Expendable

Watch Providers

HBO Max
HBO Max Amazon Channel
TCM

Casting arrow_drop_down

Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery
as Lt. John Brickley
John Wayne
John Wayne
as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
Donna Reed
Donna Reed
as Lt. Sandy Davyss
Jack Holt
Jack Holt
as General Martin
Ward Bond
Ward Bond
as "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
Marshall Thompson
Marshall Thompson
as Ens. 'Snake' Gardner
Paul Langton
Paul Langton
as Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
Leon Ames
Leon Ames
as Major James Morton
Arthur Walsh
Arthur Walsh
as Seaman Jones
Donald Curtis
Donald Curtis
as Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
Cameron Mitchell
Cameron Mitchell
as Ens. George Cross
Louis Jean Heydt
Louis Jean Heydt
as 'Ohio'
Jeff York
Jeff York
as Ens. Tony Aiken
Murray Alper
Murray Alper
as 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
Harry Tenbrook
Harry Tenbrook
as 'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c
Jack Pennick
Jack Pennick
as 'Doc'
Alex Havier
Alex Havier
as 'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c
Charles Trowbridge
Charles Trowbridge
as Admiral Blackwell
Robert Barrat
Robert Barrat
as The General
Bruce Kellogg
Bruce Kellogg
as Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c
Tim Murdock
Tim Murdock
as Ens. Brant
Russell Simpson
Russell Simpson
as 'Dad' Knowland
Vernon Steele
Vernon Steele
as Army Doctor
Robert Emmett O'Connor
Robert Emmett O'Connor
as Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)
Philip Ahn
Philip Ahn
as Army Orderly (uncredited)
Steve Barclay
Steve Barclay
as Naval Officer (uncredited)
Betty Blythe
Betty Blythe
as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Danny Borzage
Danny Borzage
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Al Bridge
Al Bridge
as Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)
George Bruggeman
George Bruggeman
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
James Carlisle
James Carlisle
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Jack Carrington
Jack Carrington
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Bruce Carruthers
Bruce Carruthers
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Tony Carson
Tony Carson
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Jack Cheatham
Jack Cheatham
as Commander (uncredited)
Fred Coby
Fred Coby
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Roger Cole
Roger Cole
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Jane Crowley
Jane Crowley
as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Henry H. Daniels Jr.
Henry H. Daniels Jr.
as Sailor (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
William B. Davidson
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Marjorie Davies
Marjorie Davies
as Nurse (uncredited)
Larry Dods
Larry Dods
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
William 'Red' Donahue
William 'Red' Donahue
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Frank Eldredge
Frank Eldredge
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
John Epper
John Epper
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Jim Farley
Jim Farley
as (uncredited)
Charles Ferguson
Charles Ferguson
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Lee Tung Foo
Lee Tung Foo
as Asian Bartender (uncredited)
Art Foster
Art Foster
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Almeda Fowler
Almeda Fowler
as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Mary Jane French
Mary Jane French
as Lost Nurse (uncredited)
Jon Gilbreath
Jon Gilbreath
as 'Snuffy' Submarine Commander (uncredited)
James Gonzalez
James Gonzalez
as Sailor (uncredited)
Duke Green
Duke Green
as PT-41 Boat Starboard Torpedoman (uncredited)
Sherry Hall
Sherry Hall
as Marine Major (uncredited)
Stuart Hall
Stuart Hall
as Bar Patron (uncredited)
Robert Homans
Robert Homans
as Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)
Michael Kirby
Michael Kirby
as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Michael Kostrick
Michael Kostrick
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Paul Kruger
Paul Kruger
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Stubby Kruger
Stubby Kruger
as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Jack Lee
Jack Lee
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Jack Lorenz
Jack Lorenz
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Leota Lorraine
Leota Lorraine
as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Jack Luden
Jack Luden
as Naval Air Captain (uncredited)
James Magill
James Magill
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
George Magrill
George Magrill
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Eve March
Eve March
as Nurse (uncredited)
Maurice Marks
Maurice Marks
as Soldier (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard
Kermit Maynard
as Airport Officer (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick
Merrill McCormick
as Wounded Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Frank McGrath
Frank McGrath
as 'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)
Leonard Mellin
Leonard Mellin
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Robert Milasch
Robert Milasch
as Minor Role (uncredited)
Henry Mirelez
Henry Mirelez
as Filipino Boy (uncredited)
Jack Mower
Jack Mower
as Officer (uncredited)
Charles Murray Jr.
Charles Murray Jr.
as Jeep Driver (uncredited)
Forbes Murray
Forbes Murray
as Navy Captain (uncredited)
Bill Neff
Bill Neff
as Submarine Skipper / Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Bill Nind
Bill Nind
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell
Wedgwood Nowell
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Franklin Parker
Franklin Parker
as Naval Officer (uncredited)
Frank Pershing
Frank Pershing
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Nino Pipitone Jr.
Nino Pipitone Jr.
as Bartender's Child (uncredited)
Dan Quigg
Dan Quigg
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Joey Ray
Joey Ray
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
William McKeever Riley
William McKeever Riley
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Jack Ross
Jack Ross
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
John Roy
John Roy
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Harold Schlickenmayer
Harold Schlickenmayer
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Phil Schumacher
Phil Schumacher
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Jack Semple
Jack Semple
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Sam Simone
Sam Simone
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Reginald Simpson
Reginald Simpson
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Leslie Sketchley
Leslie Sketchley
as Marine Orderly (uncredited)
Ralph Soncuya
Ralph Soncuya
as Filipino Orderly (uncredited)
Larry Steers
Larry Steers
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Sammy Stein
Sammy Stein
as Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)
Jack Stoney
Jack Stoney
as Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
Robert Strong
Robert Strong
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Bob Thom
Bob Thom
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Brad Towne
Brad Towne
as Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
Jack Trent
Jack Trent
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Tom Tyler
Tom Tyler
as Captain at Airport (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan
Emmett Vogan
as Naval Doctor (uncredited)
Eleanore Vogel
Eleanore Vogel
as Officer's Wife (uncredited)
Hansel Warner
Hansel Warner
as Officer at Airport (uncredited)
Billy Wilkerson
Billy Wilkerson
as Sgt. Smith (uncredited)
Roque Ybarra Jr.
Roque Ybarra Jr.
as Bartender's Child (uncredited)
arrow_drop_down

Crew arrow_drop_down

Recomendation Films

  • Pickup on South Street
  • Operation Pacific
  • 3 Godfathers
  • Body and Soul
  • The Fighting Seabees
  • Operation Petticoat
  • The Cardinal
  • Victory Through Air Power
  • A Kind of Murder
  • The Informer
  • Bedtime Story
  • Three Texas Steers
  • The Grapes of Wrath
  • The Bridges of Madison County
  • Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace
  • Pierrot le fou
  • White Hunter, Black Heart
  • Julius Caesar
  • Viskningar och rop
  • ビジターQ

Similar Films

  • Kandak Sema
  • Attack! The Battle for New Britain
  • Alex: The Life of a Child
  • Suite Française
  • The Blue Angel
  • The Hanging Sun
  • Martha, Jac a Sianco
  • Cross of Iron
  • Steiner - Das Eiserne Kreuz Teil II
  • Lord of the Flies
  • Eye of the Needle
  • Faust - Eine deutsche Volkssage
  • Escape from Alcatraz
  • 雪風 YUKIKAZE
  • Mrs. Henderson Presents
  • Ne le dis à personne
  • Catatan Harian Menantu Sinting
  • La cieca di Sorrento
  • King of the Bingo Game

NextFilm 2026