They Were Expendable Movie Review

One of the worst war movies ever made, They Were Expendable tells the oh-so-serious tale of PT boats during WWII. Set in 1941 (and released in 1945, when the war was still going on!), we are treated to John Wayne's perfunctory performance as he ties up boats and unties them, then gets in a bunch of battles before having to tie up some more boats. Interminably long, the film is nearly unwatchable and offers nothing new in the way of war (or anti-war) commentary. Sure, the lowly PT boatmen weren't expendable, but their movie is.

Often described as one of the greatest WWII movies ever made. I suspect it's by people who have never had to sit through the actual film.