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They Were Expendable

1945·Movie·NR·135 min·6.5(135)

A Tribute to Those Who Did So Much... With So Little!

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.

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Where to watch They Were Expendable in United States

Click a service to open They Were Expendable there. Availability last verified on June 20, 2026.

Where is They Were Expendable streaming around the world?

CountryStreaming onRent / Buy
United StatesYouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TVAmazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies
United KingdomApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
CanadaApple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
AustraliaApple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies
GermanyApple TV Store, Amazon Video, maxdome Store
FranceMolotov TV, Cine+ OCS Amazon Channel , SFR PlayApple TV Store, Amazon Video
SpainMovistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total , FilminAmazon Video
JapanAmazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD
South KoreaWatcha

About They Were Expendable

They Were Expendable is a 1945 English-language drama and war film directed by John Ford. The cast is led by Robert Montgomery, John Wayne, Donna Reed. It has a runtime of 2h 15m. Viewers rate it 6.5/10 across 100 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on YouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TV.

They Were Expendable was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and made in United States of America. It was released on December 7, 1945, and carries a NR certification.

Director
John Ford
Writers
Frank Wead, Christina Stead
Release date
December 7, 1945
Original language
English
Age rating
NR
Status
Released
Country
United States of America
Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
#navy#based on novel or book#world war ii#pearl harbor#philippines#pacific war#pacific theater#bataan#1940s#corregidor

They Were Expendable cast & crew

They Were Expendable was directed by John Ford and written by Frank Wead and Christina Stead.

The cast features Robert Montgomery as Lt. John Brickley, John Wayne as Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan, Donna Reed as Lt. Sandy Davyss, Jack Holt as General Martin, Ward Bond as "Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate, and Marshall Thompson as Ens. 'Snake' Gardner.

Behind the camera, the score was composed by Herbert Stothart, cinematography is by Joseph H. August, and it was produced by John Ford.

Is They Were Expendable worth watching?

They Were Expendable holds an audience score of 6.5/10 from 135 ratings, a solidly received drama films.

At 2h 15m, it's a standard feature-length watch.

If you enjoy drama and war, They Were Expendable is worth a place on your watchlist.

How and where to watch They Were Expendable

In United States, you can stream They Were Expendable on YouTube TV, Plex, and Tubi TV, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.

Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.

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Cast of They Were Expendable

Robert Montgomery

Robert Montgomery

Lt. John Brickley

John Wayne

John Wayne

Lt. (J.G.) 'Rusty' Ryan

Donna Reed

Donna Reed

Lt. Sandy Davyss

Jack Holt

Jack Holt

General Martin

Ward Bond

Ward Bond

"Boats" Mulcahey, Chief Boatswain's Mate

Marshall Thompson

Marshall Thompson

Ens. 'Snake' Gardner

Paul Langton

Paul Langton

Ens. 'Andy' Andrews

Leon Ames

Leon Ames

Major James Morton

Arthur Walsh

Arthur Walsh

Seaman Jones

Donald Curtis

Donald Curtis

Lt. (J.G.) 'Shorty' Long

Cameron Mitchell

Cameron Mitchell

Ens. George Cross

Louis Jean Heydt

Louis Jean Heydt

'Ohio'

They Were Expendable — FAQs

Where can I watch They Were Expendable in United States?

They Were Expendable is streaming on YouTube TV, Plex, Tubi TV in United States.

Is They Were Expendable on YouTube TV?

Yes — They Were Expendable is currently available on YouTube TV in United States.

What language is They Were Expendable in?

They Were Expendable is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.

How long is They Were Expendable?

They Were Expendable runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).

What is They Were Expendable rated?

They Were Expendable is rated NR. It holds a 6.5/10 audience score from 135 ratings.

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