In 1926, an US naval engineer gets assigned to a gunboat on a rescue mission in war-torn China.
Director:
Robert Wise
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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 | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
See All (107) »
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 Keywords:
year 1926 | gunboat | yangtze river | warship | cultural misunderstanding |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 »Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for violence and sexual material | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
20 December 1966 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El Yang-Tsé en llamas See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$12,000,000 (estimated)Gross USA:
$30,017,647, 31 January 1968Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (BBFC submission before censorship) | (roadshow)Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)| Mono (35 mm prints) (Westrex Recording System)| 4-Track StereoColor:
Color (Color by Deluxe)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Jake Holman: I don't got no more enemies. Shove off, Captain.
See more »
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting and Ange Lorenzo
Lyrics by Ray Egan and Joseph R. Alden
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Opening scenes were shot on the battleship USS Texas in Houston, Texas. These shots of Machinist Mate First Class Jake Holman (Steve McQueen) transferring off the battleship did not make it into the final print. See more »Goofs
During one of the scenes where the San Pablo is in danger of being boarded by hostile Chinese, the crewmen are issued Springfield rifles. But they are not given any ammunition belts. Even if the rifles were loaded, which they would not normally be while in storage, they would hold only five cartridges (six with a round in the chamber). Such a limited supply of ammo would not have been enough to turn back the large number of Chinese if they had attempted to board the ship. See more »Quotes
Captain Collins: Do you know what this is? Desertion in the face of the enemy.Jake Holman: I don't got no more enemies. Shove off, Captain.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Opening credits prologue: SHANGHAI 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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"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.