[Governor Dinwiddie]

They Were Expendable (1945) is a terrific film on many levels. The fact that it is a "war movie" is practically irrelevant. It is just a flat out good movie. Of course it helps to like director John Ford's style. Many remember his greatest movie The Searchers.

As a love interest there's Donna Reed in her prime. Who doesn't adore Donna Reed? Can't help falling in love! Robert Montgomery stars alongside the Duke. Montgomery in real life is the father of Elizabeth Montgomery of Bewitched Fame John Ford's stalwart "go to guy" Ward Bond rounds out the cast.

Time well spent.

[Rockingham]

Released months after the war was over, the gritty, downbeat theme of They Were Expendable led to poor performance at the box office. Yet the film has endured well in giving a taste of the dismal circumstances that America faced in the early months of the war in the Pacific.

The subject of war movies is burdened by the considerable dislike of actual combat veterans for screen heroics. For example, when John Wayne appeared in person as a surprise guest at movie night before a hospital audience of wounded Marines in 1945 in Hawaii, he stepped out in a cowboy outfit with all the works, from 10-gallon hat to pistols and spurs.

Wayne grinned and said, ‘Hi ya, guys!’ He was met by a stony silence and then booed off the stage. Men who knew and had been severely wounded in combat had little regard for screen heroes. Even the best and most realistic of war movies barely conveys the brutal reality of combat.

[Rummyfan]

That's a great flick and historically very accurate although some of the names have been changed. Montgomery's character is based on Lt John Bulkeley who was awarded the MOH.

John D. Bulkeley

[Macho MAGA Man]

Is that the movie where they using PT Boats?

[chrisinoc]

“They Were Expendable (1945) is a terrific film on many levels. The fact that it is a “war movie” is practically irrelevant. It is just a flat out good movie. Of course it helps to like director John Ford’s style. Many remember his greatest movie The Searchers.”

From IMDB.com: During production, John Ford had put John Wayne down every chance he got, because Wayne had not enlisted to fight in World War II. Ford commanded a naval photographic unit during the war, rising to the rank of captain and thought Wayne a coward for staying behind. After months of Ford heaping insults on Wayne’s head, co-star Robert Montgomery finally approached the director and told him that if he was putting Wayne down for Montgomery’s benefit (Montgomery had also served as a naval officer in the war), then he needed to stop immediately. This brought the tough-as-nails director to tears and he stopped abusing Wayne.