The Sand Pebbles (1966)

THE SAND PEBBLES is one of those historical epics that were all the rage back in the 1960s. This one was directed by the great Robert Wise and features the equally great Steve McQueen in one of his less-remembered roles. He plays a sailor stationed on the Yangtze river who gets involved with a local uprising in the 1920s. The plot is fictional but there's a certain air of authenticity to the proceedings and a refreshing lack of the usual 'yellowface' make-up that mars such films. This doesn't have a huge cast, but there are nice turns from Richards Crenna and Attenborough, and a fine performance from a youthful Mako, no less, as McQueen's young buddy. The film suffers from an exceptionally slow first half, but it picks up to a surprisingly bleak climax that pays off in spades.

Having had a contentious three years in the US Navy as an officer myself no doubt cements the connection I feel for this movie which is my all time favorite. Simply put I find that every scene and word rings completely true, as if it could happen exactly this way in reality. It's a great story and true to life as it is, good and bad.

I wasn't really looking forward to this, as I'm not a huge fan of military/war movies, not to mention it's three hours long. Thankfully, though, it's quite good, almost great. I think it could have moved a bit faster at times, but it's a compelling story with several exceptional set pieces and fine acting all around. Steve McQueen stars as a gunboat engineer assigned to a small ship, the USS San Pablo, sailing the Yangtze River in 1926. Revolution brews in China, but the handful of Westerners in the country don't have much to do with it. That doesn't last for long, as the communist factions gain more traction and the San Pablo becomes a scapegoat of some of the factions, who try to get the Americans to commit an act of war so their own civil war can fully blossom. The San Pablo has to play the situation very carefully. The movie is quite tense. It's not very action packed, but it does build to a fantastic battle sequence which has instantly become one of my all time favorites. McQueen was rarely better, and received his sole Oscar nomination for the role. Just as good in supporting roles are Mako (who was Oscar nominated, as well), Richard Attenborough (who was not but did win a Golden Globe) and Richard Crenna as the Captain. Candice Bergen, only 19 or 20 at the time, also co-stars as McQueen's love interest. She doesn't get a lot to do, but she's fine.

Steve McQueen was rightly nominated for an Oscar, for his sterling performance in this movie. For Richard Crenna, this has to have been his finest hour. A beautifully crafted tale of American involvement in China during, I think , the Boxer rebellion. The film reunited Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough, of Great Escape fame. However, it must be said that the character of Frenchy, who Richard Attenborough plays, is a disappointment in this production, as he is totally out of place in his portrayal of a lovesick member of the crew. The film moves at an extraordinary pace throughout, with the occasional calm respite. Totally believable from start to finish, with engineering set- pieces spot on. The Sand Pebbles remains one reason why people still visit the cinema.