They Were Expendable
1945, English. Directed by John Ford.
A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!
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.
- Runtime
- 2h 15m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
Start now and it ends at ….
Popcorn Flick
Fun if you don’t overthink it.
6.5/10 from 141 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch They Were Expendable
They Were Expendable is streaming on HBO Max in India.
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Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
- John FordDirector
- Robert MontgomeryLt. John Brickley
- John WayneLt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan
- Donna ReedLt. Sandy Davyss
- Jack HoltGeneral Martin
- Ward Bond"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate
- Marshall ThompsonEns. 'Snake' Gardner
- Paul LangtonEns. 'Andy' Andrews
- Leon AmesMajor James Morton
- Arthur WalshSeaman Jones
- Donald CurtisLt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
- Cameron MitchellEns. George Cross
- Louis Jean Heydt'Ohio'
Details
- Released
- 7 December 1945
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Frank Wead, Christina Stead
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What They Were Expendable is based on
They Were Expendable is adapted from a novel.
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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They Were Expendable: quick answers
Is They Were Expendable worth watching?
Our verdict is Popcorn Flick: Fun if you don’t overthink it. It scores 6.5/10 from 141 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is They Were Expendable?
They Were Expendable runs 135 minutes (2h 15m).
Does They Were Expendable have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for They Were Expendable. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
They Were Expendable parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
They Were Expendable is rated NR in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is They Were Expendable on?
They Were Expendable is streaming on HBO Max in India. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like They Were Expendable?
If you liked They Were Expendable, try Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Midway, Operation Pacific.
Who directed They Were Expendable?
They Were Expendable (1945) was directed by John Ford and stars Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed.
What is They Were Expendable based on?
They Were Expendable is adapted from a novel.