They Were Expendable (film)
"They Were Expendable" is a 1945 war film directed by John Ford, based on the true story of Lieutenant John Bulkeley's service in the Philippines following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. The film stars Robert Montgomery as Lieutenant John Brickley and John Wayne as his second-in-command, Lieutenant Rusty Ryan. It explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the complexities of military orders as the officers work to utilize their small torpedo boats against larger Japanese warships, despite being primarily assigned to support missions. The narrative builds toward a dramatic climax when Brickley and Ryan are ordered to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur to safety in Australia, a decision that forces them to leave many of their men and nurses behind, including a nurse who has developed a romantic connection with Ryan. The film reflects the harsh realities of war and the personal conflicts that arise within the broader context of military strategy and national duty. Notably, director John Ford's own experiences in combat influenced the film's depiction of the human costs of war, lending it a sense of authenticity and gravitas.
They Were Expendable (film)
Identification Film about the role of PT boat crews early in World War II
Director John Ford (1894-1973)
Date Released on December 20, 1945
This grim portrait of duty and sacrifice was only a modest box-office success, but film historians consider it one of the best films to come out of the war and one marked by Ford’s own extensive Navy experience.
They Were Expendable was written by Frank Wead and is based on the real-life service of Lieutenant John Bulkeley (called John Brickley in the film) in the Philippines in the aftermath of the December, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Brickley (Robert Montgomery) and his second-in-command lieutenant Rusty Ryan ( John Wayne) are anxious to prove their small, speedy torpedo boats can be effectively used against larger warships, but they are relegated to ferrying messages and supplies around the islands. Ryan is visibly angry about this. Brickley, no less disappointed, insists that they must sacrifice personal goals and follow orders for the sake of the larger war effort. They do engage and sink some Japanese warships before the overwhelming enemy forces crush American resistance. The climax of the film occurs when they are ordered to evacuate the American commander, General Douglas MacArthur, to safety in Australia. This means leaving most of their men behind at Bataan and Corregidor and the nurses as well, one of whom (Donna Reed) has formed a strong romantic attachment to Ryan.
Impact
John Ford had personally photographed and directed combat films from Midway to D Day and knew firsthand the human costs of war. His large fee for They Were Expendable went entirely to support a recreation-retirement center for the veterans of the Field Photographic Unit, which he had founded. Film historians credit Ford’s naval service with influencing his subsequent films in the direction of greater seriousness concerning duty and patriotism.
Bibliography
Basinger, Jeanine. The World War II Combat Film: Anatomy of a Genre. New York: Columbia University Press, 1986.
McBride, Joseph. Searching for John Ford: A Life. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2001.