
They Were Expendable
- Drama
- War
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.
Cast

Robert Montgomery
Lt. John Brickley

John Wayne
Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Donna Reed
Lt. Sandy Davyss

Jack Holt
General Martin

Ward Bond
"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

Marshall Thompson
Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

Paul Langton
Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

Leon Ames
Major James Morton

Arthur Walsh
Seaman Jones

Donald Curtis
Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

Cameron Mitchell
Ens. George Cross

Louis Jean Heydt
'Ohio'

Jeff York
Ens. Tony Aiken

Murray Alper
'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c

Harry Tenbrook
'Squarehead' Larsen SC 2c

Jack Pennick
'Doc'

Alex Havier
'Benny' Lecoco ST 3c

Charles Trowbridge
Admiral Blackwell

Robert Barrat
The General

Bruce Kellogg
Elder Tompkins M.M. 2c

Tim Murdock
Ens. Brant

Russell Simpson
'Dad' Knowland

Vernon Steele
Army Doctor

Robert Emmett O'Connor
Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)

Philip Ahn
Army Orderly (uncredited)

Steve Barclay
Naval Officer (uncredited)

Betty Blythe
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
- Danny Borzage
Danny Borzage
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

Al Bridge
Lieutenant Colonel (uncredited)
- George Bruggeman
George Bruggeman
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- James Carlisle
James Carlisle
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Jack Carrington
Jack Carrington
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- Bruce Carruthers
Bruce Carruthers
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Tony Carson
Tony Carson
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Jack Cheatham
Commander (uncredited)
- Fred Coby
Fred Coby
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- Roger Cole
Roger Cole
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- Jane Crowley
Jane Crowley
Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Henry H. Daniels Jr.
Sailor (uncredited)

William B. Davidson
Hotel Manager (uncredited)
- Marjorie Davies
Marjorie Davies
Nurse (uncredited)
- Larry Dods
Larry Dods
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- William 'Red' Donahue
William 'Red' Donahue
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Blake Edwards
Boat Crewman (uncredited)
- Frank Eldredge
Frank Eldredge
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- John Epper
John Epper
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Jim Farley
(uncredited)
- Charles Ferguson
Charles Ferguson
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Lee Tung Foo
Asian Bartender (uncredited)
- Art Foster
Art Foster
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)

Almeda Fowler
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
- Mary Jane French
Mary Jane French
Lost Nurse (uncredited)
- Jon Gilbreath
Jon Gilbreath
'Snuffy' Submarine Commander (uncredited)
- James Gonzalez
James Gonzalez
Sailor (uncredited)
- Duke Green
Duke Green
PT-41 Boat Starboard Torpedoman (uncredited)
- Sherry Hall
Sherry Hall
Marine Major (uncredited)
- Stuart Hall
Stuart Hall
Bar Patron (uncredited)

Robert Homans
Bartender at Manila Hotel (uncredited)

Michael Kirby
Boat Crewman (uncredited)
- Michael Kostrick
Michael Kostrick
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Paul Kruger
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Stubby Kruger
Stubby Kruger
Boat Crewman (uncredited)
- Jack Lee
Jack Lee
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Jack Lorenz
Jack Lorenz
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Leota Lorraine
Officer's Wife (uncredited)

Jack Luden
Naval Air Captain (uncredited)
- James Magill
James Magill
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

George Magrill
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Eve March
Nurse (uncredited)
- Maurice Marks
Maurice Marks
Soldier (uncredited)

Kermit Maynard
Airport Officer (uncredited)
- Merrill McCormick
Merrill McCormick
Wounded Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Frank McGrath
'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)
- Leonard Mellin
Leonard Mellin
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Robert Milasch
Minor Role (uncredited)
- Henry Mirelez
Henry Mirelez
Filipino Boy (uncredited)

Jack Mower
Officer (uncredited)
- Charles Murray Jr.
Charles Murray Jr.
Jeep Driver (uncredited)

Forbes Murray
Navy Captain (uncredited)
- Bill Neff
Bill Neff
Submarine Skipper / Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- Bill Nind
Bill Nind
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Wedgwood Nowell
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Franklin Parker
Franklin Parker
Naval Officer (uncredited)
- Frank Pershing
Frank Pershing
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- Nino Pipitone Jr.
Nino Pipitone Jr.
Bartender's Child (uncredited)
- Dan Quigg
Dan Quigg
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Joey Ray
Joey Ray
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- William McKeever Riley
William McKeever Riley
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- Jack Ross
Jack Ross
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- John Roy
John Roy
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Harold Schlickenmayer
Harold Schlickenmayer
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Phil Schumacher
Phil Schumacher
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- Jack Semple
Jack Semple
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Sam Simone
Sam Simone
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Reginald Simpson
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Leslie Sketchley
Leslie Sketchley
Marine Orderly (uncredited)
- Ralph Soncuya
Ralph Soncuya
Filipino Orderly (uncredited)

Larry Steers
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)

Sammy Stein
Sammy - Boat Crewman (uncredited)
- Jack Stoney
Jack Stoney
Boat Crew Member (uncredited)
- Robert Strong
Robert Strong
Officer at Airport (uncredited)
- Bob Thom
Bob Thom
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Brad Towne
Brad Towne
Man in Admiral's Office (uncredited)
- Jack Trent
Jack Trent
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Tom Tyler
Captain at Airport (uncredited)

Emmett Vogan
Naval Doctor (uncredited)
- Eleanore Vogel
Eleanore Vogel
Officer's Wife (uncredited)
- Hansel Warner
Hansel Warner
Officer at Airport (uncredited)

Billy Wilkerson
Sgt. Smith (uncredited)
- Roque Ybarra Jr.
Roque Ybarra Jr.
Bartender's Child (uncredited)


















