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The Sand Pebbles

Play trailer Poster for The Sand Pebbles PG-13 1966 3h 2m Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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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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The Sand Pebbles

Critics Reviews

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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?” Go to Full Review 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... Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bob K. @BobKo 1d One of top five movies ever See more mark g @Mark_Alan_G. Oct 16 Brilliantly shot with Steve McQueen, all you need to know. See more 06/24/2024 How did Luke McCoy become commander of a US Navy gunboat? Man, this is one drag of a movie. See more Kevin B 02/02/2023 Long movie but so good See more Christopher B 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. See more colin m 07/08/2022 Political tensions ride high in the 1920s between an American navy ship crew and the Chinese. Steve McQueen stars. A long movie, at 2 hours 53 minutes. See more Read all reviews
The Sand Pebbles

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Wise

Director

Steve McQueen

Jake Holman

Richard Attenborough

Frenchy Burgoyne

Candice Bergen

Shirley Eckert

Richard Crenna

Captain Collins

Mako

Po-han

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The Sand Pebbles

The Sand Pebbles (1966) The Sand Pebbles (1966) View more photos

Movie Info

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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