The Sand Pebbles

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The Sand Pebbles

PG-13

1966

3h 2m

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

85%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

87%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In 1926, the USS San Pablo patrols the Yangtze River during the clashes between Chiang Kai-shek's communists and Chinese warlords. Eight-year veteran machinist Jake Holman (Steve McQueen), new to the self-named sand pebbles crew, immediately draws deep suspicion due to his independent streak. Ordered to protect Americans, including schoolteacher Shirley Eckhart (Candice Bergen), Jake and the gunboat crew are unwittingly drawn into a bitter nationalistic feud that holds grim consequences.

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Pauline Kael

The New Republic

09/19/2023

When a movie is this big (and over three hours long) we sit there thinking, “What’s it all for?”

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

01/23/2024

4/5

...under Wise’s skilled direction, and with remarkable production values, it’s an absolute pleasure to watch...

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

08/27/2020

8/10

Though the conclusion is abrupt, the journey is riveting, with expert direction by Robert Wise and a proficient screenplay by Robert Anderson.

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Wendy Michener

Maclean's Magazine

01/28/2020

McQueen's character certainly represents anti-war sentiment, but in the end he is forced to accept his public role -- or possibly his duty -- the matter is ambiguous --and so dies for who knows what.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

03/15/2011

C+

Steve McQueen gives a dominant performance in Robert Wise's ambitious but flawed period drama, which offers interesting parallels to the US involvment in Vietnam.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

12/26/2009

B

The drama wavers between being compelling and reaching too far for greater historical significance, that it loses its bearings.

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Robert V

2d

Description is wrong. Chiang Kai Shek led the Kuomintang nationalists, he fought AGAINST the communists

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Bob K.

@BobKo Dec 20

One of top five movies ever

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mark g

@Mark_Alan_G. Oct 16

Brilliantly shot with Steve McQueen, all you need to know.

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Russ G

06/24/2024

How did Luke McCoy become commander of a US Navy gunboat? Man, this is one drag of a movie.

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Kevin B

02/02/2023

Long movie but so good

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Christopher B

@Ikari777 10/03/2022

I thought the film was good, a little long, but interesting nonetheless. Steve McQueen was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance and there are some good performances here, but some appears a little too much like it's scripted. For a film made in 1966, the themes here are very modern for their time and very applicable today.

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Synopsis

In 1926, the USS San Pablo patrols the Yangtze River during the clashes between Chiang Kai-shek's communists and Chinese warlords. Eight-year veteran machinist Jake Holman (Steve McQueen), new to the self-named sand pebbles crew, immediately draws deep suspicion due to his independent streak. Ordered to protect Americans, including schoolteacher Shirley Eckhart (Candice Bergen), Jake and the gunboat crew are unwittingly drawn into a bitter nationalistic feud that holds grim consequences.

Director: Robert Wise
Producer: Robert Wise
Screenwriter: Robert Anderson
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Production Co: 20th Century Fox, Solar Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1966, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Runtime: 3h 2m

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