SummaryThe PT boat unit Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron Three defends the Philippines from Japanese invasion during World War II.
Directed By:John Ford, Robert Montgomery
Written By:William L. White, Frank Wead, Norman Corwin, George Froeschel, Jan Lustig
They Were Expendable
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
86
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
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Metascore
Universal Acclaim
86
100% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Beautifully photographed in black and white by Commander Joseph August, this moving picture has images and sequences that show Ford at his poetic and humanistic best. [13 Aug 2006, p.20]
100
In direct contrast to the flag-waving, jingoistic propaganda films typical of Hollywood during WWII, John Ford's They Were Expendable is a somber and moving account of America's defeat in the Philippines early in the war.
90
It is nostalgic, warm with sentiment and full of fight in every foot. It is hard to commend any actor above the rest. Each plays his part well.
90
Brilliantly intertwined intensely personal stories with magnificently epic narrative.
80
A war movie with enough honour and heroism to make a grown man weep.
70
The picture vividly portrays the big job the little boats did. The battle scenes in which the P-Ts go after Jap cruisers and supply ships were exceptionally well directed.
70
The tugs of docudrama, emotionalism and sheer timing produced a major work of surprisingly downbeat romanticism.
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
67% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
33% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
May 17, 2025
5
Es una película totalmente aburrida. Si bien la premisa es interesante, porque hablan acerca de la guerra entre Japón y Estados Unidos, y por lo menos hasta ese momento no se había hablado de eso específicamente, sino que se centraban solo en lo que sucedía con Alemania; el problema es que, más allá de eso, lo demás es genérico. No puedo decir que sea horrible, pero sí es una película intrascendente, por lo que no la voy a recordar; los acontecimientos que suceden no logran conectar. Existe un romance, como no podía ser de otra forma, mal escrito, y las escenas de acción, para una película de dos horas, son pocas, y las que suceden están bien, no son nada extraordinarias o realistas, por lo que es una pena, bastante mediocre y mala.
Production Company:
- Loew's
Release Date:Dec 31, 1945
Duration:2 h 15 m
Tagline:A Spine-Tingling Thundering Saga Of The Sea!
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 2 Nominations
Photoplay Awards
• 3 Wins & 3 Nominations





























