Movie · 1945
They Were Expendable
Released 7 December 1945 More from 1945 → Letterboxd ↗ · TMDB ↗
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.
FR·01
How old were they?
Robert Emmett O'Connor
as Silver Dollar Bartender (uncredited)
William B. Davidson
as Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Robert Barrat
as The General
Emmett Vogan
as Naval Doctor (uncredited)
Kermit Maynard
as Airport Officer (uncredited)
Leon Ames
as Major James Morton
Louis Jean Heydt
as 'Ohio'
Frank McGrath
as 'Slim' - Bearded CPO (uncredited)
Tom Tyler
as Captain at Airport (uncredited)
Robert Montgomery
as Lt. John Brickley
Murray Alper
as 'Slug' Mahan T.M. 1c
Philip Ahn
as Army Orderly (uncredited)
Jeff York
as Ens. Tony Aiken
Paul Langton
as Ens. 'Andy' Andrews
Donald Curtis
as Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long
Cameron Mitchell
as Ens. George Cross
Donna Reed
as Lt. Sandy Davyss
Michael Kirby
as Boat Crewman (uncredited)
FR·02
The numbers
40years between the oldest and youngest billed
60Robert Emmett O'Connor — oldest on the call sheet
20Michael Kirby — youngest billed
41average age of the credited cast