The Sand Pebbles (Two-Disc Special Edition)
starring: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen, Emmanuelle Arsan
directed by: Robert Wise
directed by: Robert Wise
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Product Description:
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 05/13/2008Run time: 179 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com:
Following the success of The Sound of Music, director Robert Wise chose to film Robert McKenna's prize-winning 1962 novel, The Sand Pebbles--an ambitious choice for a director at the peak of his career. Shot in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the film combines historical sweep and intimate human drama in several parallel stories, all revolving around U.S. Navy machinist's mate Jake Holman (Steve McQueen). Holman is a skillful but fiercely independent sailor who joins the "sand pebble" crew of the U.S.S. San Pablo, a Navy gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River on the eve of the Chinese revolution in 1926. The San Pablo's inexperienced captain (Richard Crenna) obsessively defends the Navy's mission--however unnecessary or unwanted--to protect American missionaries and businessmen, blind to the more dangerous implications of American involvement with China's opposing political factions.
Holman is a defiant voice of humanity in this clash between outmoded values and inevitable change; his final line of dialogue ("What the hell happened?") is a tragic summation of misguided policy, expressing the film's criticism of the Vietnam War. Rather than preach, however, Wise lets McKenna's potent drama emerge from finely-drawn relationships--between Holman and a young American teacher (19-year-old Candice Bergen, in her second film); between Holman and the Chinese "coolie" (Mako) whose heartbreaking fate transcends all issues of racial or political difference; and between crewmate "Frenchy" Burgoyne (Richard Attenborough) and the Chinese woman he's sworn to love and protect at all costs. Combined with the film's colorful supporting cast, adventurous scope, and climactic battle scenes, these personal dynamics bring substance and spirit to a complex story of good intentions gone awry. --Jeff Shannon
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 05/13/2008Run time: 179 minutesRating: Nr
Amazon.com:
Following the success of The Sound of Music, director Robert Wise chose to film Robert McKenna's prize-winning 1962 novel, The Sand Pebbles--an ambitious choice for a director at the peak of his career. Shot in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the film combines historical sweep and intimate human drama in several parallel stories, all revolving around U.S. Navy machinist's mate Jake Holman (Steve McQueen). Holman is a skillful but fiercely independent sailor who joins the "sand pebble" crew of the U.S.S. San Pablo, a Navy gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River on the eve of the Chinese revolution in 1926. The San Pablo's inexperienced captain (Richard Crenna) obsessively defends the Navy's mission--however unnecessary or unwanted--to protect American missionaries and businessmen, blind to the more dangerous implications of American involvement with China's opposing political factions.
Holman is a defiant voice of humanity in this clash between outmoded values and inevitable change; his final line of dialogue ("What the hell happened?") is a tragic summation of misguided policy, expressing the film's criticism of the Vietnam War. Rather than preach, however, Wise lets McKenna's potent drama emerge from finely-drawn relationships--between Holman and a young American teacher (19-year-old Candice Bergen, in her second film); between Holman and the Chinese "coolie" (Mako) whose heartbreaking fate transcends all issues of racial or political difference; and between crewmate "Frenchy" Burgoyne (Richard Attenborough) and the Chinese woman he's sworn to love and protect at all costs. Combined with the film's colorful supporting cast, adventurous scope, and climactic battle scenes, these personal dynamics bring substance and spirit to a complex story of good intentions gone awry. --Jeff Shannon
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Steve McQueen's best performance
This is just one exceptional movie. One of my all time classics.
An examination of the little-known or understood tensions and political ramifications of being aboard an American gunboat, in the 1920's, in the China backwater.
The atmosphere and the story are superb.
Steve McQueen has never been better as Jake Holman, a hard-nosed American sailor, with his own code of right and wrong. His character absolutely dominates the movie. This is the type of character ... Read More
Rating: - ANOTHER GREAT OLDIE (1965)
What can I say? One of my all-time favorites. Steve McQueen is great
and the relationship between him and the "bilge coolie" (aka Chinese ship
laborer) "Po Han", is really fun to watch. I'll leave out the part that will
probably surprise you, but watch McQueen's facial expressions and
reactions during this scene and throughout the rest of the movie.
My opinion - this is acting at its' best.
PS - thanks for this UNCUT VERSION - 3 HOURS LONG AND WORTH
WATCHING ... Read More
Rating: - Classic all the Way
Starring: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough,Candice Bergen and Director- Robert Wise from 1966. This is a true classic. Steve is cool, tough and yet sensitive. Richard Crenna was never fully accredited for his acting skills perhaps due to his roles in the Real McCoy and Rambo, but he is excellent in this flick. I never watch the second "special disc" so can't comment on that.
The scenery and backdrop of China is also fantastic. I am not a movie reviewer obviously but this is a great movie ... Read More
Rating: - McQueen's Finest
Tough to say considering just how many terrific movies he appeared in but this is his most measured and moving performance as Jake Holman.Beautifully filmed and filled with a great cast: Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen, Richard Attenborogh, Mako and Simon Oakland.Directed by Robert Wise -- an underappreciated director whose credits include THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE HAUNTING, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN & STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE -- this is a forgotten chapter ... Read More
Rating: - Classic
Steve McQueen at his very best. I liked this even more than "The Great Escape".
- Steve McQueen's best performanceThis is just one exceptional movie. One of my all time classics.
An examination of the little-known or understood tensions and political ramifications of being aboard an American gunboat, in the 1920's, in the China backwater.
The atmosphere and the story are superb.
Steve McQueen has never been better as Jake Holman, a hard-nosed American sailor, with his own code of right and wrong. His character absolutely dominates the movie. This is the type of character ... Read More
- ANOTHER GREAT OLDIE (1965)What can I say? One of my all-time favorites. Steve McQueen is great
and the relationship between him and the "bilge coolie" (aka Chinese ship
laborer) "Po Han", is really fun to watch. I'll leave out the part that will
probably surprise you, but watch McQueen's facial expressions and
reactions during this scene and throughout the rest of the movie.
My opinion - this is acting at its' best.
PS - thanks for this UNCUT VERSION - 3 HOURS LONG AND WORTH
WATCHING ... Read More
- Classic all the WayStarring: Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough,Candice Bergen and Director- Robert Wise from 1966. This is a true classic. Steve is cool, tough and yet sensitive. Richard Crenna was never fully accredited for his acting skills perhaps due to his roles in the Real McCoy and Rambo, but he is excellent in this flick. I never watch the second "special disc" so can't comment on that.
The scenery and backdrop of China is also fantastic. I am not a movie reviewer obviously but this is a great movie ... Read More
- McQueen's FinestTough to say considering just how many terrific movies he appeared in but this is his most measured and moving performance as Jake Holman.Beautifully filmed and filled with a great cast: Richard Crenna, Candice Bergen, Richard Attenborogh, Mako and Simon Oakland.Directed by Robert Wise -- an underappreciated director whose credits include THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, THE HAUNTING, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WEST SIDE STORY, THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN & STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE -- this is a forgotten chapter ... Read More
- ClassicSteve McQueen at his very best. I liked this even more than "The Great Escape".
