7.7/10
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The Sand Pebbles (1966)

PG-13 | | Adventure, Drama, Romance | 20 December 1966 (USA)
The Sand Pebbles Poster
In 1926, an US naval engineer gets assigned to a gunboat on a rescue mission in war-torn China.

Director:

Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)

Stars:

, , | See full cast & crew »
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Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 13 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Holman
... Frenchy
... Collins
... Shirley
... Maily (as Marayat Andriane)
... Po-han
... Jameson
Charles Robinson ... Ensign Bordelles
... Stawski
... Harris
... Bronson
... Crosley
Joe Di Reda ... Shanahan (as Joseph di Reda)
... Major Chin
... Franks
See full cast »
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Storyline

Engineer Jake Holman arrives aboard the gunboat U.S.S. San Pablo, assigned to patrol a tributary of the Yangtze in the middle of exploited and revolution-torn 1926 China. His iconoclasm and cynical nature soon clash with the "rice-bowl" system which runs the ship and the uneasy symbiosis between Chinese and foreigner on the river. Hostility towards the gunboat's presence reaches a climax when the boat must crash through a river-boom and rescue missionaries upriver at China Light Mission. Written by Martin H. Booda <booda@datasync.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

year 1926 | gunboat | yangtze river | warship | cultural misunderstanding | See All (104) »

Taglines:

This is the heroic story of the men on the U.S.S. San Pablo who disturbed the sleeping dragon of savage China as the threatened world watched in breathless terror See more »

Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Romance | War

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence and sexual material | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

20 December 1966 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El Yang-Tsé en llamas  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$30,017,647, 31 January 1968
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

, ,  »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (BBFC submission before censorship) | (roadshow)

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)| (35 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)|

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The only Best Picture Oscar nominee that year to be also nominated for Best Art Direction (Color). See more »

Goofs

Upon seeing the boom in the river, the Captain (Richard Crenna) leans forward grabbing the forward handrail. In the next scene, he again leans forward grabbing the forward handrail. See more »

Quotes

Jake Holman: Hello, Engine; I'm Jake Holman.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: SHANGHAI See more »

Connections

Featured in Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998) See more »

Soundtracks

Sleepy Time Gal
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting and Ange Lorenzo
Lyrics by Ray Egan and Joseph R. Alden
See more »

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User Reviews

 
Throughly enjoyable.
28 March 2003 | by – See all my reviews

"The Sand Pebbles" was a throughly enjoyable movie. The setting was exotic and the story engaging. Though it starred Steve McQueen, who did an excellent job, its strength was the ensemble acting with a very talented cast including Richard Crenna, Richard Attenborough, Mako and Candice Bergen. The story was nicely involved and, though it portrayed the sailor's prejudices, did not feel condescending toward the Chinese as many war-type movies do. The men were caught up in the turbulent times and many of the conflicts portrayed seem to come more from troubled psyches. It is not Ramboish macho crap. I found the portrayals of the people and times entertaining. I had read the book so maybe I read more into the movie than others seeing it cold. It was a very good movie and well worth a watch.
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