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John Ford's poetic adaptation of William White's book about a PT boat squadron in the South Pacific during World War II may be the best feature film on the war in that theater and is considered by some scholars, including British director Lindsay Anderson, as Ford's greatest work. Just before the outbreak of the war, Lt. John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) is assigned to take his Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron to Manila Bay to defend against a possible Japanese attack in the Philippines. Once there, he finds that the top brass, amused by the idea that the small crafts can be of use in combat, relegates the PT boat to messenger duty. Angered by that reaction, Brickley and his crew must wait for the war to begin to show what they can do. When it does, they shoot down three Japanese planes during an attack on their base, but when the base is closed Brick's squadron is reassigned to Bataan, where they once again are ordered to run messages, and Brickley's fiery executive officer, Lt. Rusty Ryan (John Wayne), fed up with such meaningless duty, asks to be transferred to a destroyer. The embodiment of Milton's tag that "they also serve who stand and wait," Ford's elegiac film pays tribute to all who donned a uniform during the war, whatever their role. Montgomery, who shared in the film's direction, gives the best noncomic performance of his career as the evenhanded CO. But in a visually arresting film that could provide a formidable emotional impact even without the use of sound, it's the eloquent compositions of director of photography Joseph H. August that resonate most powerfully.
Credits
Producer:
John Ford
Cast:
Donald Curtis, Leon Ames, Paul Langton
Editorial reviews
"...[Robert Montgomery] gives the best performance of his career..." USA Today - Mike Clark (06/16/1992)
5 stars out of 5 -- "Ford's experiences in combat documentary are clear, but what's surprising for modern viewers is its measured, even downbeat tone....This is a nuanced and at times fatalistic study of men at arms..." Uncut - Jack Douglas (05/01/2006)
3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] very watchable monochrome WWII piece....[With] a strong supporting cast..." Ultimate DVD - Jan Vincent-Rudzki (07/01/2006)
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They Were Expendable - DVD *NEW
Format:
DVD
Rating:
Not Rated
Actors:
Leon Ames, Leon Waycoff, Robert Montgomery
Director:
John Ford, Sean Aloysius O'Feeney
Runtime:
135 minutes
John Ford's poetic adaptation of William White's book about a PT boat squadron in the South Pacific during World War II may be the best feature film on the war in that theater and is considered by some scholars, including British director Lindsay Anderson, as Ford's greatest work. Just before the outbreak of the war, Lt. John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) is assigned to take his Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron to Manila Bay to defend against a possible Japanese attack in the Philippines. Once there, he finds that the top brass, amused by the idea that the small crafts can be of use in combat, relegates the PT boat to messenger duty. Angered by that reaction, Brickley and his crew must wait for the war to begin to show what they can do. When it does, they shoot down three Japanese planes during an attack on their base, but when the base is closed Brick's squadron is reassigned to Bataan, where they once again are ordered to run messages, and Brickley's fiery executive officer, Lt. Rusty Ryan (John Wayne), fed up with such meaningless duty, asks to be transferred to a destroyer. The embodiment of Milton's tag that "they also serve who stand and wait," Ford's elegiac film pays tribute to all who donned a uniform during the war, whatever their role. Montgomery, who shared in the film's direction, gives the best noncomic performance of his career as the evenhanded CO. But in a visually arresting film that could provide a formidable emotional impact even without the use of sound, it's the eloquent compositions of director of photography Joseph H. August that resonate most powerfully.
Leon Ames, Leon Waycoff, Robert Montgomery, Henry Montgomery, Donald Curtis, Paul Langton, Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, John Wayne, Marion Michael Morrison, Duke Morrison, Donna Reed, Donna Belle Mullenger
Rating: Not Rated Content: n/a Runtime: 135 minutes Color: B&W Extra Info:
DVD Features:
Full Frame - 1.33 Audio: 2 Track Mono 2M English
EDITORIAL REVIEWS:
John Ford's poetic adaptation of William White's book about a PT boat squadron in the South Pacific during World War II may be the best feature film on the war in that theater and is considered by some scholars, including British director Lindsay Anderson, as Ford's greatest work. Just before the outbreak of the war, Lt. John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) is assigned to take his Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron to Manila Bay to defend against a possible Japanese attack in the Philippines. Once there, he finds that the top brass, amused by the idea that the small crafts can be of use in combat, relegates the PT boat to messenger duty. Angered by that reaction, Brickley and his crew must wait for the war to begin to show what they can do. When it does, they shoot down three Japanese planes during an attack on their base, but when the base is closed Brick's squadron is reassigned to Bataan, where they once again are ordered to run messages, and Brickley's fiery executive officer, Lt. Rusty Ryan (John Wayne), fed up with such meaningless duty, asks to be transferred to a destroyer. The embodiment of Milton's tag that "they also serve who stand and wait," Ford's elegiac film pays tribute to all who donned a uniform during the war, whatever their role. Montgomery, who shared in the film's direction, gives the best noncomic performance of his career as the evenhanded CO. But in a visually arresting film that could provide a formidable emotional impact even without the use of sound, it's the eloquent compositions of director of photography Joseph H. August that resonate most powerfully. ()
Following the devastation of Pearl Harbor, two navy skippers take their small PT boats into action against the immense Japanese cruisers. ()
Additional cast: Arthur Walsh (Seaman Jones); Harry Teabrook ("Squarehead" Larsen, SC 2c); Alex Havier ("Benny" Lecoco, ST 3c); Tim Murdock (Ensign Brant); Vernon Steele (Army Doctor).
Additional credits: Douglas Biggs (editor).
Many people involved in this film had recently served in the Navy, including star Robert Montgomery. Furthermore, the film received the full cooperation of the U.S. Navy. ()
"...[Robert Montgomery] gives the best performance of his career..." USA Today (06/16/1992)
5 stars out of 5 -- "Ford's experiences in combat documentary are clear, but what's surprising for modern viewers is its measured, even downbeat tone....This is a nuanced and at times fatalistic study of men at arms..." Uncut (05/01/2006)
3 stars out of 5 -- "[A] very watchable monochrome WWII piece....[With] a strong supporting cast..." Ultimate DVD (07/01/2006)
ADDITIONAL PRODUCTION NOTES: Director: John Ford, Sean Aloysius O'Feeney
Producer: John Ford, Sean Aloysius O'Feeney
Composer: Herbert Stothart Director of Photography: Joseph H. August, Joseph August Editor: Frank Hull, Frank E. Hull Production Designer: Cedric Gibbons Screenwriter: Frank Wead, Spig Wead, Lt. Comdr. Frank Wead
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