IMDb >
The Sand Pebbles (1966)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at Blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Sand Pebbles (1966) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 27 | slideshow) |
         |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
20 December 1966 (USA)
more
Tagline:
THE STORY OF MEN...men who disturbed the sleeping dragon of China as the world watched in terror! more
Plot:
Engineer Jake Holman arrives aboard the gunboat U.S.S. San Pablo, assigned to patrol a tributary of...
more
| full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars.
Another 5 wins
&
10 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(10 articles)
"10 Rillington Place" Now At Film Forum, New York
(From CinemaRetro. 27 June 2009, 11:04 AM, PDT)
Candice Bergen And Steve McQueen's Family Attend Lincoln Center Screening Of "The Sand Pebbles"
(From CinemaRetro. 21 May 2009, 8:23 AM, PDT)
(From CinemaRetro. 27 June 2009, 11:04 AM, PDT)
Candice Bergen And Steve McQueen's Family Attend Lincoln Center Screening Of "The Sand Pebbles"
(From CinemaRetro. 21 May 2009, 8:23 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Strong Epic Film Which Got Shafted At Oscar Night
more (79 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Steve McQueen | ... | Jake Holman |
 | Richard Attenborough | ... | Frenchy Burgoyne |
 | Richard Crenna | ... | Captain Collins |
 | Candice Bergen | ... | Shirley Eckert |
 | Emmanuelle Arsan | ... | Maily (as Marayat Andriane) |
 | Mako | ... | Po-han |
| Larry Gates | ... | Jameson |
| Charles Robinson | ... | Ensign Bordelles |
| Simon Oakland | ... | Stawski |
| Ford Rainey | ... | Harris |
| Joe Turkel | ... | Bronson |
 | Gavin MacLeod | ... | Crosley |
| Joe Di Reda | ... | Shanahan (as Joseph di Reda) |
| Richard Loo | ... | Major Chin |
| Barney Phillips | ... | Franks |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violence and sexual material.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
182 min | UK:243 min (BBFC submission before censorship) | Sweden:193 min | USA:196 min (roadshow version)
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Mono (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Norway:11 (DVD rating) (2006) |
Iceland:16 |
Canada:14A (video rating) |
USA:Approved (certificate #21310) (original rating) |
Brazil:14 |
Australia:PG |
Finland:K-16 |
Norway:16 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:15 |
USA:PG-13 (re-rating) (2000) |
West Germany:16 |
UK:A (original rating) (cut) |
Singapore:PG
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The movie is often mistakenly described as being intended as an allegory for the Vietnam War, but Richard McKenna, the author of the best-selling novel on which the film was based, served on U.S. Navy gunboats in China during the 1930's and based the book on his own experiences. The Vietnam War allegory, perhaps inevitably, was ascribed to the film by the press on it's release in 1966, although not the original intention of the author, screenwriter, or director.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the end in the missionary's courtyard 2 Chinese soldiers are shot at the obelisk. One falls in the right open portion the other falls to the left. The left soldier disappears in subsequent scenes.
more
Quotes:
Jake Holman:
[Holman enters the engine room after boarding the San Pablo. He looks around the room, smiles and places his hand on the machinery] Hello, Engine; I'm Jake Holman.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The Slanted Screen (2006)
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (79 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Sand Pebbles (1966) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Empire of the Sun | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Apocalypse Now | Marie Galante | Gone with the Wind |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Drama section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |
What a powerful story! It's hard to believe this epic movie - three hours in length - was nominated for eight Academy Awards and came away with nothing. It seems unjust. Well, not everything is "just" in this dramatic story, either. Good people die, bad people live. Incredible joy and sorrow are but a few minutes away. The story is well-told and thus keeps your attention, is well-acted and is nicely- filmed.
My only complaint was the last 13 minutes when the film got a little too political and, of course, tilted to the Left as films tend to do. Otherwise, I throughly enjoyed the experience of watching this long movie, and sorry I didn't watch this years ago. Well, better late than never, is all I can say. This movie is worthy of any serious film collector's attention.
Robert Wise directed and he did a fabulous job. I just love some of the shots and camera angles in this widescreen production, which was done justice in a recently--released two- disc DVD. The cinematography was by Joseph MacDonald. I'm sorry he didn't win an Oscar.
The story has something for everyone: several action scenes, two romances, a little humor, some flag waving and flag disparaging, and a lot of drama and intrigue. I also found two interesting character studies: "Jake Holman," by lead actor Steve McQueen, and "Captain Collins-," with Richard Crenna. Both men delivered numerous surprises.
There also is a lot of hostility by the Chinese toward the "invaders," the Americans. China's revolution during the period this story takes place (md '20s) had two factions: the Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the Communists. The former was generally a peaceful organization, the latter, pretty violent. Neither one wanted outsiders running their country any longer.
The cast - well-known and not-so well--known, was solid from McQueen on down. I think it was odd to hear Richard Attenborugh with an American accent but he did a nice job with it. Crenna played the most interesting character, in my opinion, as captain hard to figure. As for the supporting actors, Simon Oakland ("Stawski") and Mako ("Po-han") stood out to me.
I'm not going get into the story, as enough reviewers have already done that. Photograhy-wise, it was nice to see most of this shot outdoors, not on some studio lot or sound-stage. I enjoyed all of the shots of the ship, the "San Pablo." The new DVD sports an outstanding transfer. Audiby, i's advertised as 4.0 sound but there is no rear speaker audio in here, so 3.0 would be more accurate.
Overall, a memorable story and highly-recommended.