They Were Expendable (1945)

[Hawkswill]

HAH, Larry, you found one with Ward in it......super. Thanks. I am looking for the one where he was on a crutch and he and Duke said their goodbyes.
KEITH

[lasbugas]

[The Tennesseean]

You know, this is "minutia" at it's best, but the 2 real-life characters (Donna Reed's and John Wayne's characters) the movie circled around kinda "semi-romantically," allegedly sued everyone connected with ALL aspects of the film.

According to the trivia section of IMDb, because of their objection to the "romantic" aspects of the film, studios had to add the familiar disclaimer "Any similarity to actual persons or events, is purely coincidental"

Well...that's untrue. This "disclaimer" was shown at either the beginning or ending of films (sometimes BOTH) as early as 1930...

I know its not earth-shattering, but I thought it was interesting!

[Hawkswill]

Larry, Mon Ami, you found a big pic of Ward with Brick and Duke........you are a doll! Thank you SO much....see the look on Duke's face, that is of a friend glad that his best friend can act again after a long hiatus of recooping from an almost severed leg! Now, if you EVER run into the one of Ward and Duke together just after that one, I would go to France to shake your hand..or give you a hug if you don't mind hugs, whenever I can afford it, LOL! Seriously, first large pic I have seen of that except for screen caps I make. LOVE IT, Thanks again, Larry!

You are right, Russ, very interesting. KEITH WOW!

[Hawkswill]

Larry, you probably got the only really good one. One shows Duke about to clap Ward on the back. But when he and Ward grab each other, Ward turns toward Duke and you can't see his face. Will put that here. There IS one good one when Ward turns back and Brick is putting the binoculars on him. I will try to get it on here also.

Thanks again for the other one. If you ever run into one like these, it would be great to have for me. This really shows the love the two men had for each other. Too bad Ward's face is not shown......wish I could dolly the camera around just a tad!......don't know how well that will translate, LOL!

Duke is about to clap Ward on the back...see how he is looking at him? Don't think that is the look of a superior officer.



This is the really good one except for the camera angle, darn it. If that picture doesn't say a thousand words! I can almost hear Duke say, Well ya made it ya big Palooka, ya really did, or something of the sort, and Ward thanking him for standing by him.



This is probably the absolute best. Afraid it won't be available in stills though. They held onto each other for quite a bit there. Amazing that neither of them cried!



Sorry for the bars yall, but that is the only way I know to do these things, LOL. Thanks once more, Larry, KEITH

[wtrayah]

Not many movies out there about the PT boats, thats what made it a hit with me! It seems a little to long for me, but still a great war movie!

[Hawkswill]

Not many movies out there about the PT boats, thats what made it a hit with me! It seems a little to long for me, but still a great war movie!

Well, have to agree with you there WT, but I just kept looking for Ward. I read PT109 before I saw the movie. Book was better, but the movie was OK. When JFK hit the dock because of his motor failing when he threw her in reverse reminds me of when I used to bring our ski boat in to dock beside the houseboat. I did the same thing. Head on into the dock full speed, swing the wheel and throw her into reverse.....just slide the side right up to the dock to moor her. Thank goodness Mom and Dad kept that old Evinrude in good shape cause she never failed me like JFK's did. They also built a mini version of a PT Boat before we and another family built a huge houseboat in our front yard. Had to get a navy trailer to haul her down the long winding driveway, and had to cut down about 10 huge pines, (before the pine beetle came through GA and I had to cut them ALL down on 2 acres!) Anyway, I was just awestruck at what PT Boats accomplished against much larger targets.......boy, you had to have real guts to be a PTer. Mom and Dad used the Elco 80 footer plans and scaled it down, of course no gun emplacements or torpedo racks were used, LOL. That old boat would take any kind of pounding, she was designed for it. KEITH

[lasbugas]