They Were Expendable is a war film released in 1945. It was directed by John Ford and starred John Wayne and Robert Montgomery. 1945 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Ford (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973) was one of the most accomplished American film directors of the 1930s to 1960s, known particularly as a director of the Westerns, although his tributes to the veterans of World War II and Americana are also equally effective. ... John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), nicknamed Duke, was an American film actor whose career began in silent movies in the 1920s. ... Robert Montgomery (May 21, 1904 – September 27, 1981) was an American actor and director. ...

The film is the novelized (and largely true) story of the exploits of John D. Bulkeley, a motor torpedo boat squadron commander, and Robert Kelly, a skipper, during the World War II Japanese onslaught against the Philippines during 1941–1942. Vice Admiral John D. Bulkeley (19 August 1911 – 6 April 1996) was a United States Navy officer who was noted for his service during World War II and the Cold War. ... Robert Kelly is a young stand-up comedian. ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb. ...

John Brickley (Robert Montgomery) is the character based on Bulkeley and Rusty Ryan (John Wayne), Kelly. The film opens with a demonstration of the PT boats in Manila Bay the day Pearl Harbor is bombed as the heroes will shortly learn. Ryan is disgusted with the 'Brass' rejection of the P.T. boats as a viable naval craft and is in the process of writing out his resignation when the word of war comes. Ryan and Brickley's demands for combat assignments for their squadron are for a time frustrated until they are finally allowed to show what they can do. From there on the action is practically non-stop with the exception of Ryan's romantic interlude with nurse Sandy Davis (Donna Reed). With the mounting Japanese onslaugnt against the doomed American garrisons at Bataan, and Corregidor, the Torpedo Squadron is assigned the task of evacuating General MacArthur and a party of V.I.Ps. This done they resume their attacks against the Japanese who finally whittle the squadron down to a handful of men and a single boat. The film ends with the immenent surrender and the grim fate the defenders face, all of them gallant to the last. A superb tribute to American heroism, this film is considered by some to be Wayne's finest performance. Manila Bay Ãœ is the harbor which serves the port of Manila (on Luzon), in the Philippines. ... The Imperial Japanese Navy made its attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941. ... PT boats in line A PT boat was a motor torpedo boat (hull classification symbol PT), a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. ... Donna Reed (January 27, 1921 – January 14, 1986) was an American actress. ... Bataan is a province of the Philippines occupying the whole of Bataan Peninsula on Luzon. ... The Place Corregidor is an island in the entrance of the Philippines Manila Bay. ... MacArthur landing at Leyte Beach in 1944. ...