The Sand Pebbles

*Year: 1966
*Director: Robert Wise

*(Person of Note)Cinematography: Joseph MacDonald
*Cast: Steve Mcqueen, Richard Attenborough, Candice bergen, Richard Crenna, Mako

Set in 1926, China. Jake Holman is a Naval enginer in the US Asiatic fleet. Though a good crew member, he is somewhat rebellious and has several transfers to show for it. He is transfered to the San Pablo, a gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River. Though he almost immediatley befriends one sailor, Frenchy, he is obstricized by the rest of the crew as a Jonah. All the while, the Captain has to manage his increasinly disgruntled crew as well as holding back the endless hordes of angry and violent Chinese combatants without the luxury of violent force for fear of sparking an international incident.


Like Stagecoach and Citizen Kane, this film to me seems like one of the quintesential good movies. I first discovered it years back as a bored kid who would watch anything on TV. I first saw bits and pieces of it on AMC and since it was an old movie, I naively dismissed it. Since I now have a complete love of old movies, I checked this one out and fortunatley for me, it's as good as they say.


To start off, the film has impecable pacing. Though it is long (over 3 hours!), it moves along very nicely. Thats not to say it's action packed, because it isn't. Though it is filled full of numerous great scenes that will always keep your eyes glued to the screen. Because I have an amazingly short attention span, I often doodle while watching a movie and sort of watch it out of the corner of my eye. But with this film, I couldn't look away.


There is nothing about the film that jumps out at you or sets it apart from other films. It is just a very well made film. Drama is balanced nicely with charater developement, tension, violence, romance, social commentary, and action. No one scene in the film feels unncecessary or out of place. And thus, feels like it is much shorter than 3 hours. There is also some good acting here. McQueen was given his only Oscar Nomination. Richard Crenna alos stands out as the stoic yet troubled Captain. Joseph Macdonald, one of the great cinematographers, delivers the goods here. Great widescreen views of the Chinese Rivers and farm lands. As well as some great interior lighting.


The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Director and Best Picture. A wonderfully made film.