The Sand Pebbles (1966)

If you are a Steve McQueen fan, you will rank ‘The Sand Pebbles’ right up there with films such as ‘Papillon’ and ‘Bullitt’ as his best. The film, by acclaimed director Robert Wise, showcases a classic love story against the backdrop of a clash of eastern and western cultures in pre-Mao China and the journey of a man, who has left his past behind in a foreign country, who doesn’t want to be tied down, but falls in love and has to deal with it.

The USS San Pablo is a gunboat assigned duty of patrolling the Yangtze River. Jake Holman is an engineer who has been transferred to the Sand Pebbles, as the crew calls it. He finds the system on board repulsive, with sailors using local Chinese men as slaves, while leading a comfortable life. His individualistic attitude leads to fractious equations with his crew mates and captain. En route to dropping off a missionary Jameson and his idealistic assistant Shirley, Jake befriends her and falls in love.

With the uprising driven by Chiang Kai-shek picking up momentum, the San Pablo faces local ire wherever she docks. With orders to leave the country, the San Pablo makes a final trip up Yangtze River to rescue Jameson and Shirley. For Jake, it is also a personal journey of commitment to the corps and to his heart.

Robert Wise’s canvas is a magnum opus for its time as well as an emotional roller coaster. With the beauty of the Yangtze River and the Chinese heartland as its backdrop, the film portrays multiple dimensions of conflict with remarkable sensitivity. 

There are many exchanges between principal characters that are rich in content, with a lot of depth in character. Wise allows the mellowing of Jake Holman to sink into you gradually across the 3-hour running length. The flip side is the one dimensional depiction of the locals as savage and brutal, which makes the film imbalanced and one-sided.

Steve McQueen excels in a sensitive portrayal of the detached, brooding Holman, who has left his country behind and doesn’t intend on going back. He adds a softer dimension to his tough guy image and shows inner turmoil with remarkable ease. Richard Crenna, who would go on to portray Col. Trautman in Rambo, excels in a supporting role as Captain Collins, while Candice Bergen in one of her early roles brings her exquisite beauty to screen.

‘The Sand Pebbles’ is a wonderful, emotionally charged drama.