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The Sand Pebbles | Year: 1966 Classification: Action/Adventure Directed: - Robert Wise Actors/Actresses: - Candice Bergen - Steve McQueen - Richard Attenborough Quite possibly the best movie you never heard of. The San Pebbles is quite possibly the best movie you never heard of. Shot and released in the mid 1960's by the superlative director Robert Wise, the movie was unfortunately a bit too much ahead of its time, and its subtle anti-Vietnam War message put a lot of viewers and critics of the time off. As a result, this film never got the attention it so richly deserves. Starring Steve McQueen, in what many believe to be his best acting effort ever, the movie shows how good intentions, a lot of ignorance, and unchallenged political and military policy drew the US into unfortunate involvement I the Chinese revolution of 1926. McQueen plays Jake Holman , 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. 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. Any of this sound vaguely familiar vis-à-vis Vietnam? Although Holman would prefer to simply tend his boat's engines he becomes involved with a local missionary/teacher (a very young and breathtakingly beautiful Candice Bergen). That relationship, the romance of his on board buddy, crewmate "Frenchy" Burgoyne with a local Chinese woman, and his friendship with a local "coolie", Mako, draw him into the realities of the local situation, with catastrophic consequences. Holman's anguished "What the hell happened?" is a question that would be asked often, and often with even more anquish, as the '60's-and the war-- wore on. Featuring one of the best supporting casts ever assembled, extraordinary acting and direction, a wide ranging and consuming story, exotic locale, amazing action and adventure and tremendous scope and intensity, The Sand Pebbles stands as one of the great epic movies of all time. THE SAND PEBBLES AND ME The first time I watched The Sand Pebbles it was on a premium cable station between channel flipping. I never really gave the movie much thought because I was under the impression that it was just a B-rated romance. Wow I was totally mistaken. Being a war movie buff, I have seen many of the great war films and The Sand Pebbles stands up there as one of the finest. From the very beginning the action draws the viewer into the intrigue of a navy vessel caught on the Yangtse River in China during the middle 1920s. Steve McQueen is suberb as Holman the chief engineer of the San Pablo. His portrayal of a veteren seaman who has lost his humanity and wins it back through the love of a missonary, played by Candance Bergen, is incredibly moving. Director Robert Wise also enlists great performances from Richard Crenna, Richard Attenborough and Mako. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is interested in the history of China and the United States. The Sand Pebbles brings this history vividly to life. I also highly recommend the video, which I rented shortly after watching it on cable. This movie prompts multi-viewing to fully enjoy the high drama. A timeless classic of the time of Old China's awakening. This film, along with The Great Escape, established Steve McQueen as a major star, but it is much more than a vehicle for McQueen. This is a wonderful story of the intersection between Western culture and Old China, in the period when China was seek of joke? Fifth, the theoretical irony of realizing that it is Kissinger himself who believed that heads of stat in their collection! Buy The Sand Pebbles at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on The Sand Pebbles Search with the Priority Search Engine on The Sand Pebbles This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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