{"product_id":"they-were-expendable","title":"They Were Expendable","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"FeatureHeader__Header-sc-1isqd5j-0 gVbjsZ\" data-testid=\"storyline-header\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ipc-title__wrapper\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn the wake of Pearl Harbor’s surprise attack, World War II hero, Lt. John Brickley’s experimental squadron of agile fast-attack Patrol Torpedo boats is sent to warm and humid Manila to avert a potentially imminent Japanese invasion. As he and his second-in-command, Lieutenant “Rusty” Ryan, desperately try to prove the newly-founded naval unit’s worth, the enemy launches a devastating all-out attack–and despite the PT boat flotilla’s undeniable success–the considerably outnumbered and outgunned American soldiers are fighting a losing battle. Little by little, the Philippine campaign is doomed to cave in, as comrades-in-arms perish in the sea. Is there glory in defeat?\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTARS: \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0599910\/?ref_=tt_ov_st_1\"\u003eRobert Montgomery\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0000078\/?ref_=tt_ov_st_2\"\u003eJohn Wayne\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/name\/nm0001656\/?ref_=tt_ov_st_3\"\u003eDonna Reed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e135 min | Drama, War | 1945 | Color\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003eMovies with low demand and\/or out of print are manufactured-to-order using high quality recordable DVDs. Please read FAQs if unsure, or send a query.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003eAll DVDs are Region 0 and are guaranteed to play on any DVD player in any country in the world\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003eSatisfaction Guarantee – if you are not satisfied with any aspect of your purchase then we will explore all options to rectify the issue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eCOMBINED POSTAGE: ONLY CHARGED FOR THE FIRST DVD ALL OTHERS IN A MULTIPLE ORDER ARE POST FREE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003ePostage: Free In Australia.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(43, 0, 255);\"\u003ePostage: Rest Of The World at Table Rate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003eAll DVDs come in a DVD case with color artwork and printed disc\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(42, 96, 153);\"\u003eAll DVDs are available as an MPEG4 file sent to you via an email link. Save on postage and waiting time. Transfer can take up to 12 hours depending on the time zone you are in.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"UserReviewSummary__SummaryContainer-kfza1v-0 dZBbcg\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"UserReviewSummary__Summary-kfza1v-1 bA-dHai\" data-testid=\"review-summary\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"UserReviewSummary__SummaryContainer-kfza1v-0 dZBbcg\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"UserReviewSummary__Summary-kfza1v-1 bA-dHai\" data-testid=\"review-summary\"\u003eOne of the Greatest War Films\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ipc-overflowText ipc-overflowText--listCard ipc-overflowText--base\" role=\"presentation\" data-testid=\"review-overflow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"ipc-html-content ipc-html-content--base\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have very strong feelings about this film. As a baby boomer, I have always felt that mine and future generations owe an eternal debt to those who didn’t come back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne way of acknowledging this debt is the way we watch war films, not as bloody spectacles but as tributes and reminders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd what kind of tribute and reminder is “They Were Expendable”? Consider the rueful irony of the title. Such a sentiment is quite uncharacteristic of director John Ford’s other work, especially his westerns (possibly excepting “Fort Apache”), which border on jingoism. Yes, there’s a scene that’s pretty hard to take: When the boats are detailed to take MacArthur out of harm’s way, Ford tries to make out like they’re rescuing Lincoln, complete with “Battle Hymn of the Republic” soundtrack. Today we know MacArthur as an overrated blow-hard, but 1945 was too early to see past the hype. And yes, there’s some of the usual Ford corn-ball and the familiar Ford players, with John Wayne and Ward Bond doing their thing. But then, there’s the great Robert Montgomery, who did active duty (unlike Wayne), and I truly believe he was playing this film, both as actor and co-director, straight from the heart. You can see it in a scene in which he realizes his duty means his death. Much of that scene is shot in shadow, but paradoxically the darkness serves to enhance Montgomery’s underplayed emotions. The emotions are similar when Montgomery and Wayne are later confronted with an order that saves their lives but dooms their men.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"FilmClassicsonDVD","offers":[{"title":"DOWNLOAD","offer_id":51499594318111,"sku":"weexp-2","price":10.94,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"DVD","offer_id":51499594350879,"sku":"weexp-1","price":12.94,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0944\/0788\/5087\/files\/They-Were-Expendable-rareandcollectibledvds-108.jpg?v=1767339788","url":"https:\/\/filmclassicsondvd.com\/products\/they-were-expendable","provider":"FilmClassicsonDVD","version":"1.0","type":"link"}