They Were Expendable
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: December 31, 1945 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
86
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 9 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
In direct contrast to the flag-waving, jingoistic propaganda films typical of Hollywood during WWII, John Ford's They Were Expendable is a somber and moving account of America's defeat in the Philippines early in the war. Read full review
100
The Observer (UK)Philip French
Beautifully photographed in black and white by Commander Joseph August, this moving picture has images and sequences that show Ford at his poetic and humanistic best. [13 Aug 2006, p.20]
91
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
The liberal Ford and the conservative Wayne had nothing in common politically, but artistically, they're perfectly in sync. Read full review
90
Chicago ReaderDon Druker
Brilliantly intertwined intensely personal stories with magnificently epic narrative. Read full review
90
The New York TimesBosley Crowther
It is nostalgic, warm with sentiment and full of fight in every foot. It is hard to commend any actor above the rest. Each plays his part well. Read full review
80
EmpireKim Newman
A war movie with enough honour and heroism to make a grown man weep. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleRuthe Stein
A solid WWII movie that's been lost among myriad others about the same war. [02 Jul 2006, p.28]
70
Time OutStaff (Not Credited)
The tugs of docudrama, emotionalism and sheer timing produced a major work of surprisingly downbeat romanticism. Read full review
70
VarietyStaff (Not Credited)
The picture vividly portrays the big job the little boats did. The battle scenes in which the P-Ts go after Jap cruisers and supply ships were exceptionally well directed. Read full review
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