They Were Expendable is about American military ingenuity and efficiency. It also chronicles one of the lowest points in the history of the military. The story concerns the early use of Patrol Torpedo boats, known as PT boats. They are used to deliver swift attacks against Japanese ships. John Ford, does well showing the battle scenes. The boats launch their torpedoes and leave quickly. The Director had first hand knowledge of the battle of Midway. He filmed it, and won an academy award. The movie also has John Wayne’s character, Lt. (J.G.), Rusty Ryan, having a romance with Lt. Sandy Davyss, (Donna Reed). This is the bright spot of the movie. The navy personnel are continuously forced to leave their base of operations. This is because of the march of the Japanese in The Philippines. This results in casualties and good men left behind. The movie even depicts the real life evacuation of the commander of Pacific forces, General Douglas MacArthur.
Robert Montgomery plays Lt. John Brickley, a commander of the PT boats. He was a naval commander during the war. His experience shows in his performance. Brickley butts heads a few times with Rusty. The most lighthearted is when the naval officer reluctantly shows interest in Lt. Davyss. Another instance is when the officers abandon the island, and Rusty doesn’t want to leave. Montgomery was a fine leading actor. He was also a man of high character. The director, Ford, was mocking John Wayne, because he didn’t serve. Montgomery, dressed down Ford, for his lack of class. The director never said another derogatory thing to Wayne, during filming. Montgomery also took over the helming of the movie when Ford broke his leg after a fall.
This film is filled with effective scenes. A PT boat commander is seriously wounded in an engagement. His fellow officers visit him in the hospital. It isn’t something meant to lift his spirits. They’ve come to tell him they’re abandoning the base, and they can’t take him. This is something that the officer sensed,and he understands. A very powerful scene is Lt.Brickley informing the enlisted men that they will be joining the army soldiers defending Bataan. One of the men wishes Brickley luck. Brickley wishes him the same, and watches the men march off proudly. He knows they don’t have a chance, and his expression shows it. Lt. Rusty Ryan is informed that his lady love, Lt. Davyss is missing. He is disheartened, but understands the situation. Dad Knowland,(Russell Simpson), a civilian, has helped the navy, and is told by Rusty he must leave. Dad responds that he’s lived in the Philippines, for forty years, and isn’t going to leave. Rusty leaves, and Doc is shown; rifle in hand, waiting for the enemy. The most effective scenes of the movie, is in the final moments, when Major James Morton, boards the plane leaving the island. He is told he can’t go, even though Rusty volunteers to stay. The disappointment is felt. This is mainly because this decision making happened, as sad as it is.
The scenes in this film were written by Frank (Spig Wead). He was assisted in this by Norman Corwin, a Jack of all trades in media. Wead was a naval commander, who was a naval aviation pioneer. His naval career was ended in a tragic accident. He started another career in writing. This led him to Hollywood,and screenwriting. He became good friends with John Ford. Many of his scripts involved the navy and aviation. This film is his most famous. After Frank Wead’s death, Ford made a movie about him, starring John Wayne. John Ford is the greatest person to ever get behind a camera. His reputation was enhanced by quality screenwriting.
John Wayne was a towering figure in the movies. His performance in this film, is solid. It isn’t the John Wayne that people know and love. He does play a headstrong character, who wants to continue the fight, even though the battle is lost. He is restrained with his win at all cost attitude, by Lt. Brickley. The character is reminded that they are duty bound to leave, and grudgingly accepts this. Wayne would have many female costars over his career, but Donna Reed does well opposite him. Her character of Lt. Sandy Davyss, is good with limited screen time. Ford could always get the best performances from his actors.
They Were Expendable, was a movie made by John Ford, under the strict supervision of the navy. It was the last project handled by the director, while serving in the navy. He was happy to take on the task, but unhappy with the restrictions. The biggest one was he could not edit the film. The movie was made without too many problems. Ford even had men that served with him, in the film. The beginning of the picture, gives a quote from General MacArthur, which sums up Bataan, and the sacrifice of American servicemen. Ford also lists the names and ranks of the naval officers who assisted in the making of the film. John Ford said he did not like making the film, and never watched the finished product. A few years after the movie was made, he was told it was good and should watch it. He did and agreed with the assessment. They Were Expendable, shows the high points of the American military, and shows the navy at its lowest point. John Ford does in the finale, show hope despite the despair. This movie was released in December, and the subject of PT boats was dated, and didn’t do well at the box office. It still stands the test of time, and is a very underrated movie.