they were expendable
Added 1/17/2010
I have already seen the movie on TV. I ordered it from amazon but never received it. It was lost in the UPS shipment so I canceled the order.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Captures the Pain of Early Pacific-War American Defeats
Added 1/11/2010
The situation was grim. Pearl Harbor had been attacked and the US fleet was gone, notably the oft-discussed USS Arizona. American land forces in the Philippines were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. The Japanese had aerial supremacy, and had battleships and other large naval vessels. The US Navy, and the naval lieutenant played by John Wayne, had PT boats, which some called "motorized canoes". The Americans were told in no uncertain terms that they were to be sacrificed--in effect, bunting so that some successive American forces could score the home run.
The worth of the PT boats was proved by the sinking of a large Japanese military vessel by sustained torpedo fire. They were also used to evacuate General McArthur and other important military figures.
Bataan fell. The PT boat officers were evacuated by planes to the US to develop PT strategy. McArthur said: "I shall return".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Excellent WWII movie
Added 11/13/2009
An excellent movie about early WWII. Not only shows combat for an unusual part of the navy (PT boats), but deals with the difficult decisions that commanders must make. John Wayne, Robert Montgomery and Donna Reed are all very good. One of John Ford's best.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Monkeys not Racist
Added 7/29/2009
I as surprised to read in more than one review of John Ford's "They Were Expendable" that several reviewers have an issue with the song sung by the ordinary seamen during a farewell party: "The Monkeys have no tails on Zamboanga." They interpret the song to refer to Filipinos in a racist insult. However, sailors have called ordinary seamen "deck apes," "powder monkeys" and the like for centuries. One can find discussions of this in many online dictionaries. The lyrics in the film say "the monkeys have no tails, they've been bitten off by whales," a rather whimsical view of maritime life. The verse, "He won't go back to Subic anymore" obviously is meant for the "Doc" who sheds a silent "tear" as one of the "monkeys." Clearly, the audiences since 1945 have forgotten the naval slang. I'm satisfied that no insult toward our WWII allies even contemplated by cast and crew. Great film filled with great scenes.
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Don't know
Added 7/6/2009
Don't know if I liked this movie. I ordered it on 6/5/09. It's now 7/6/09. Guess I'll have to contact customer service.
0 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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they were expendable
Added 1/17/2010
I have already seen the movie on TV. I ordered it from amazon but never received it. It was lost in the UPS shipment so I canceled the order.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Captures the Pain of Early Pacific-War American Defeats
Added 1/11/2010
The situation was grim. Pearl Harbor had been attacked and the US fleet was gone, notably the oft-discussed USS Arizona. American land forces in the Philippines were greatly outnumbered by Japanese forces. The Japanese had aerial supremacy, and had battleships and other large naval vessels. The US Navy, and the naval lieutenant played by John Wayne, had PT boats, which some called "motorized canoes". The Americans were told in no uncertain terms that they were to be sacrificed--in effect, bunting so that some successive American forces could score the home run.
The worth of the PT boats was proved by the sinking of a large Japanese military vessel by sustained torpedo fire. They were also used to evacuate General McArthur and other important military figures.
Bataan fell. The PT boat officers were evacuated by planes to the US to develop PT strategy. McArthur said: "I shall return".
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Excellent WWII movie
Added 11/13/2009
An excellent movie about early WWII. Not only shows combat for an unusual part of the navy (PT boats), but deals with the difficult decisions that commanders must make. John Wayne, Robert Montgomery and Donna Reed are all very good. One of John Ford's best.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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