Review of They Were Expendable (1945) by Scott R — 11 Jul 2015
The more I see of John Ford's films, the deeper my affection for them. They're deeply conservative, but in the best sense of the term. This film may be the best war film produced during the war, partly because of the Fordian focus on the value of duty, teamwork and a picture of home as a source of domestic comfort.
It's also an interesting history of the use of the PT Boat in WWII. Wayne is not the star. Robert Montgomery is really the focus, and that shift is important since Montgomery grounds the film, allowing Wayne to play a bit more of an impetuous man of action, which he's better at.
Donna Reed is great in a supporting role, but it's not a big role. Many Ford regulars like Ward Bond fill out the film, and Cameron Mitchell has quite a large role for his feature film debut.
This review of They Were Expendable (1945) was written by Scott R on 11 Jul 2015.
They Were Expendable has generally received positive reviews.
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