Rating: 
Summary: Underrated Masterpiece
Review: "They Were Expendable" is perhaps the finest contemporaneous film to be made during World War II about the war in the Pacific, far and away the most graceful and least racist. One would expect nothing less from John Ford anyway, but his own experiences during the war inform the film with a level of realism and feeling other war films can only hope to achieve.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding, but unusual war film
Review: A superior war film, shot just as WWII was winding down. Tightly scripted, beautifully shot, with suspenseful, visceral action, this tells the story of how PT boats -- mobile torpedo ships -- made their mark in the Pacific war theatre. John Wayne, playing second billing to Robert Montgomery, delivers one of his most understated and enjoyable performances. Realistic but full of optimism, this film matter-of-factly captures the visceral sense of danger the war brought with it -- from the early Japanese raids following Pearl Harbor, to the sense of dread and helplessness soldiers felt under bombardment while convalescing in hospital bivouacs. A fine cast of supporting actors project the same sort of pragmatic American amiability as seen in the "Terry & The Pirates" cartoon strip. The film is particularly notable for the atypically bleak, inconclusive ending, which shows the disheartening midwar defeat of the American forces in the Pacific theatre -- we know, from the modern vantagepoint, that the Americans ultimately won, but director John Ford doesn't show it in his film. Excellent film; highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne at his best.
Review: Although this movie can be a little sappy at times, it still comes through with a sense of realism that was not seen in other movies from this era. Many of the heros die and it's not even close to a fairy tale ending. Love this movie!
Rating:
Summary: John Wayne at his best.
Review: Although this movie can be a little sappy at times, it still comes through with a sense of realism that was not seen in other movies from this era. Many of the heros die and it's not even close to a fairy tale ending. Love this movie!
Rating:
Summary: SUPERLATIVE WWII FILM.
Review: An absolute must-see film for lovers of films about the WWII era: John Ford passionately directed this superior slice of what the REAL WWII was all about. This picture not only shows the pain, loneliness and sacrifice of war - in this case, the Americans in the Phillipines doomed to Japanese conquest - but effectively captures the mystique of heroism. Everything about this film is heroic, and movingly dipicted, right from the first scenes which show Montgomery, Wayne and others maneuvering their PT boats for admiral Trowbridge and other ranking Navy men, watching them skim the waters of Manila Bay in late 1941. Because I'm such an avid fan of this brilliantly realistic and finely acted account of war, I don't want to ruin it for others by giving away more details of the plot: just know that many more "modern" films don't come close to capturing the period flavour of detail as done in this 1945 masterpiece. Ford packs one poignant and powerful scene after another into this tremendous film, and Montgomery gives an outstanding performance as the PT squadron leader: he's a man of quiet reserve who carries out orders which he doesn't always agree with, doing so with unflagging determination. Location filming of the film was done in Key Biscayne, Florida - which suitably doubled for the exotic Phillipines. The film caused some post-production problems. Donna Reed's part, supposedly based upon the life of military nurse Lt. Beulah Greenwalt, sued the studio (M-G-M) and ultimately won $290,000 - which was a lot of cabbage back then. No matter, the film garnered huge financial profits for the studio. Wayne later stated that director Ford "was awfully intense while directing the picture and showed more concentration than I have ever witnessed from a director - I think he was really out to achieve something". No fears. He did.
Rating:
Summary: World at war 1931 on John Wayne movies
Review: As an official/Unofficial Battleship U.S.S. Misourri historical archivist, I find many of John Wayne's movies shot in the SW Pacific as very nice "Philippines" travel guides. Unfortunately the B&W film does not show the colorful surroundings of Cebu, and Bataan, which are very colorful and picturesque destinations.
Most all the John Wayne WWII movies seem quite excellant for those 'dark days'. At least there is audible Filipino chatter in the background audio, which is nice correct, and you learn something new. I'd rate most all John Wayne WWII efforts at 100%.
Rating: 
Summary: BAD!
Review: Every shot in this movie is beautifully composed and the photography is gorgeous.The problem? THERE IS NO STORY! It's basically a bunch of PT crewmen having a some nondescript battles, leading to no climax. Characters are intoduced and killed (mostly off-screen) in such a matter-of-fact manner that we feel nothing when we find out. A love story with John Wayne and Donna Reed is teased and then thrown away. There are no dramatic high's or lows in this movie, and it is ultimately uninvolving.
Rating:
Summary: Expendable in title only
Review: Given the fact that this movie came out just after the end of World War II, no wonder it was not a commercial success at the time. Who wanted to watch Americans being pushed around by the Japanese in 1946? Pity. This is such an usually cliche-less WW II film (for the most part), that it is a wonder to behold. A great performance by the Duke, who actually plays a character instead of himself. I can't think of another Wayne performance that equals the range of emotion he shows here. The live action sequences are a rush, even now. Watching the squadron being inexorably eliminated boat by boat, and how the early bravato fades to weary resignation by the survivors is effectively handled by an excellent cast. Robert Montgomery sets the tone from beginning to end. I especially liked the scene when the old admiral "told it like it us" to Montgomery in his bombed-out office. Nobody ever put down a better bunt than Montgomery and his squad. I can think of only two other WW II-era films that are in the same league - "Twelve O'Clock High" and "Battleground". This is a long-neglected masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Duke's Best!
Review: How can anyone not like this movie. The story line, the cast: Robert Montgomery, Ward Bond, Donna Reed, and of course the "Greatest Hero" American Movies have ever had, John Wayne. Plus all those great character actors you have seen in John Wayne films. A True Story about a little known facet of the War in the Pacific. There are some little Hollywood deviations, but John Ford was there. He put this together with as much realism has he could get by the Film and War censors of the period. Well written, well acted, well edited. They must not have left much on the cutting room floor. If you can't make up your mind which Duke DVD to get, you can't go wrong with this one. I can watch this one over and over ....
Rating:
Summary: By and large it is the best war movie of WWII
Review: How could any one not be moved by the relationship between Wayne and Donna Reed. Then there is the constant symbol of a Can DO spirit. You can't beat this movie.
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