8/8/06: They Were Expendable (1945)How is it that a classic film directed by John Ford is now mere trash? Let’s begin with Oliver Stone’s crappy
World Trade Center. That schlock isn’t about 9/11. It’s about 9/12—specifically, the 9/12 that Hollywood experienced as the industry consulted the local gurus and decided that a terrorist attack was really a chance for us to reach our own true potential for understanding and forgiveness.
(Actually, those self-righteous douchebags didn’t need a day. The towers had barely fallen before we began to get e-mails from publicists, agents, and performers pleading with us to not go out and bomb our local mosque.)
World Trade Center is directly related to the creepiness that begat
Saving Private Ryan. Check out
all the critics who felt that the film put an end to the embarrassment of John Wayne’s heritage. Our favorite moron was Bob Longino of the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, declaring that
Ryan marked the end of ‘John Wayne’s ‘War is swell’ film legacy.”
Longino was referring to feel-good titles like
They Were Expendable.
If they’re throwing it out, then we’ll gladly claim this kind of outdated production.
They Were Expendable is so jingoistic that it begins with a title card identifying “Manila Bay—In The Year of Our Lord Nineteen hundred and Forty-one.” The opening credits even list the actual ranks of some of the filmmakers during their stint in WWII. It’s almost like these guys are proud that they were in a war.
In addition to Ford’s own military service, star Robert Montgomery was a veteran of the PT boat crews that this film honors. John Wayne—in case you hadn’t been reminded lately—didn’t serve, but he sure does justice to the men who did. The war’s barely begun before Wayne literally kicks the bucket in anger over what he must ask of his men.
In another scene, Wayne’s crew is informed that there aren’t enough steel helmets for everybody about to head off on a dangerous mission. This doesn’t really sound like “War is swell” propaganda to us.
They Were Expendable seems more like a beautiful and touching tribute to what men—and women—have to endure in wartime.
The movie’s also about the start of war and the beginning of sacrifice. In contrast,
World Trade Center is about the start of war, but seems pained whenever the film has to admit that its protagonists aren’t caught in an earthquake.
This entry, however, does not mean we endorse all old-fashioned war films. There’s a lousy one opening in theaters soon called
Flyboys. Avoid at all costs. The script plays like it was written for a cast of claymation pigeons.
Make it your own: There are several versions of
They Were Expendable on DVD, but
the latest release looks great and has a neat menu where you select your options from ammunition. Still, you get more alarming patriotism for your money with
the DVD that includes 1951’s
Flying Leathernecks.
