THEY WERE EXPENDABLE

US, 1945, 135 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed, Jack Holt, Ward Bond, Marshall Thompson, Leon Ames, Cameron Mitchell.
Directed by John Ford.

They Were Expendable is a film about the defence of the Philippines in 1941 and 1942, especially the PT boats who tried to resist the Japanese. The film gives the background to the fighting of General Macarthur, his leaving the Philippines, going to Australia and planning the strategies for his return. The film ends with his return to the Philippines.

John Ford had a strong reputation for westerns before World War Two, especially his classic Stage Coach. He was to win an Oscar in 1941 for his direction of How Green Was My Valley. During World War Two he served in the navy and photographed the Battle of Midway on which a documentary film was based. This was his first film after war service. Later he was to return to westerns and make classic westerns with John Wayne.

The film was written by Frank ‘Spig’ Wead, an aviator who broke his neck in an accident in 1926 and started to write for Hollywood. He wrote quite a number of films including Test Pilot and The Citadel as well as They Were Expendable. He died in 1947. In 1957, Ford made a biographical film about Wead called Wings of Angels starring John Wayne as Wead and supported by Maureen O’Hara?.

1. The significance and tone of the title? 1945, now? The retrospect on the recent war, the relief that it is over, the exasperation of the experience of war and administration?

2. The film produced in 1945: the closeness of the memories of Pearl Harbor, the Pacific war, Macarthur, the experience in the Philippines? The closeness of the experience of war and the feel for the daily situations? how well was this filmed, communicated? American patriotism, sentiment, the relief that the war was over and won? The optimistic note of the ending with Macarthur and his return? Appropriate patriotism in the
forties? The impact now?

3. The importance of John Ford's experience during the war and his work in the Navy, his filming of naval battles, especially Midway? his friendship with the original character on whom Brickly was built? His experience of photography in the war and his transferring it to the commercial feature film? his ability to re-create his experiences in the Pacific, the Navy, the men, the day to day experiences, the dangers of war, morale, defeat? The importance of Robert Montgomery and John Wayne at the time?

4. The war in the Philippines as the focus of America's involvement in the Pacific? The background of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Invasion, the fight against the Japanese, morale in the Philippines, the continuing defeat atmosphere, the dangers for those who remained, the capture at Bataan, the heroism? Was this what the war in the Pacific was really like?

5. The focus on the motor torpedo units to illustrate the victories and the frustrations of the war? The vital start and the impressive ships? The reputation of these units? Official administrators not being particularly interested? Brick's pride, Rusty Ryan not wanting to be in these units? The presentation of the commanders, the crew? The fact that the units were not used except for messages and for intermittent action? The dangers they experienced? Carrying important personnel through the Philippines? Stranded? The final vindication at the end of the film? How well did the film illustrate these motor boats as useful for war? The episode of the destruction of the destroyer?

6. Brickly as the hero: a solid sensible American type, his skill as a Commander, his dealings with men, his friendship with Rusty and his commonsense as regards his arm, his practical dealings with the men, tactics and strategy, building up morale? A courteous man? A hero for this kind of film?

7. Comparison with Rusty and the John Ford extrovert type? The man of action who was impatient, wanting to be transferred to the destroyer yet loyal? The continual challenge of being an individual or working with the team? His loyalty, skill on missions? The experience of blood poisoning, the altercation with the doctor and with Sandy? His affection for Sandy and growing into love? The desperation of the final telephone call after the romantic interludes? His skill with the men, survival? His concern for the men as manifested in the funeral? His being on the plane at the end and yet not wanting to be? Another hero for the war?

8. The portrayal of the crews, young and old, cooks, hands, the Irish Bosun, the people in hospital? The strong and the weak, the ordinary and the afraid, the experience of injury and deaths? Exasperation at the bombing of the ships, accidents? How well was this focussed in the injury of Andrews, the morale at the men's visits to him and the sequence before his death?

9. Sandy as providing feminine and romantic interest? Her strength of character, her presence in the hospital, work in the operations under fire, her strength, sense of humanity, the dance, the drawing of Rusty out of himself? The attention paid to her at the dinner and her enjoyment of it even to the meal, the songs? The bond of affection with Rusty, the final
telephone call cut off? The audience left to think that she was a prisoner? A tribute to American women in the war?

10. The drama of the war sequences and their effective filming? The atmosphere of the Philippines, Bataan, Corregidor, the sea, Cebu? The people involved and the experience of being under fire? Dad and his plantation? The final images of the last plane leaving and the men wandering along the seashore?

11. The drama of defeat, the men wandering the islands after the surrender at Bataan? The decision about who should be on the final plane? The two men giving up their places and writing letters?

12. John Ford's great attention to detail throughout the film to give an authentic experience? Andrews and his injury and the hospital visit, the details of the meal when Sandy was entertained, the young man announcing the Silver Star? the looking at the wrecked boat and people diving in, ignoring the man announcing the award etc.?

13. Proper patriotism and sentiment? America, the forties, now?