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Steve McQueen was known for many things– action films, snappy cars, motorcycles, a charismatic presence (on hide and off), and his proper “tough guy” persona. But with this film, another description moves to the top of that list: Actor. Anyone who doubts what a grand actor McQueen was need only peek this film, because his performance here as Jake Holman is simply as righteous as it gets. “The Sand Pebbles, ” directed by Robert Wise, is the sage of Holman, a sailor assigned to the U.S. Gunboat, “San Pablo,” stationed on the Yangtze River in China in 1926 (the sailors aboard are known as “sand pebbles”) . It’s vital function is to patrol the river and thereby keep an American presence in China, a country currently experiencing a period of political unrest and impending upheaval. It’s a modern assignment for Holman, and it suits him objective fine; his job is to support the ship’s engines up and running, and because of the size of the ship, he’s the only engineer– it’s fair Jake and his engine. And that’s the procedure he likes it. Holman is a loner by nature, and something of an iconoclast. At one point, when he is asked his thought of American Foreign Policy and their presence in China, he simply says, “I don’t mess with it. It’s all look-see-pidgin, somethin’ for the officers.”
Eventually, however, Holman is nevertheless drawn into the conflict through a series of events that impact him beyond all personal resistance, the most critical being when American lives are threatened throughout China, and Holman and a landing party are sent ashore to protect and escort some missionaries assist to the safety of the San Pablo. But at the mission, Holman discovers a plot of life, the likes of which he’s never known, and for the first time ever, he realizes a sense of belonging. And he likes it. For Holman, however, it may be too late; the political turmoil throughout the country has build the lives of everyone at the mission in pain, including a young missionary named Shirley Eckert (Candice Bergen), with whom Holman has made a connection he simply cannot dispel; for in Shirley, he discerns an innocence and a goodness that compels him, and in which he finds a welcome sense of fulfillment. So what began as a routine mission becomes a salient point in Holman’s life, and he is faced with the most distinguished decision he’s ever had to obtain.
This is the one for which McQueen should have won an Oscar. As Holman, he demonstrates an emotional range and depth that runs the gamut from almost boyish naivete to a world weary musty of life who has seen and heard it all. Utterly convincing, he can say more with a tiny incline of his head, a stupid blink or shifting of his eyes than most actors could say with reams of dialogue at their disposal. He communicates with so grand more than words, and there’s meaning in everything he says and does– he never wastes a line or a single moment. What he does with this role is magnificent; it’s the definitive McQueen performance. His Holman is the personification of the loner, and in creating him he delivers something few actors could ever equal: He’s tough, convincing and charming– all at the same time. And he should’ve taken home The Statue for it.
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As Collins, the Captain of the San Pablo, Richard Crenna gives one of his finest performances, as well, and it cemented his transition from television actor to a career on the ample camouflage. After this, there was no going befriend. His portrayal of the somber, introspective Captain is riveting, and in him you readily ogle Collins’ sense of duty and honor, as well as his overwhelming sense of futility and failure. And the urgency with which he grasps his chance for redemption, even in the face of insurmountable odds, is entirely believable as it is consistent with the character he has created.
The superlative supporting cast includes Richard Attenborough (Frenchy), Emmanuelle Arsan (Maily), Mako (Po-han), Larry Gates (Jameson), Charles Robinson (Bordelles), Simon Oakland (Stawski), Ford Rainey (Harris), Joe Turkel (Bronson) and Gavin MacLeod (Crosley) . A noteworthy drama, extremely well crafted and presented by Wise, “The Sand Pebbles” is a expansive and memorable film that will forever stand as the pinnacle of McQueen’s successful career. Jake Holman is a character you will never forget, because there is something of him– that wistful longing to belong, perhaps– in all of us. A timeless classic among classics, this is one of the greatest motion pictures of all time, and is by definition, the magic of the movies.
This 1966 film is a substantial budget adaptation of the 1962 recent by Richard McKenna. Directed by Robert Wise, it gleaned nine academy award nominations. I remember reading the book a very long time ago, and remember it as an adventure memoir. But by watching this DVD, I peek now that it is distinguished more. And I also spy how it relates to what is happening in the world today.
The setting is China in 1926. Violent conflicts were everywhere. Warlords were fighting each other, and the Nationalist leader Chang Kai-Shek was gaining power. In addition, the Communists were fighting against the Nationalists. Because the U.S. had interests there, they had a few Navy gunboats going up and down the river. They weren’t supposed to do anything – impartial be a expose a force. But the Chinese, from all the different factions, wanted the Americans out. “Go Home Foreigners” was their battle wail. The Americans knew that at any moment an international incident could erupt. Sound familiar?
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Steve McQueen, in the best performance of his career, is cast as a Navy machinist on the gunboat, which was nicknamed the “Sand Pebbles”. When he joins the crew, he’s surprised to witness that the “Coolies” do all the hard work – everything from cooking to cutting hair to running the engine. He opposes this as he wants to urge the engine himself, and after some conflict, and an accidental death, he befriends one of the Coolies, and teaches him how to rush the boat. Later, there are violent consequences.
There is tension throughout between McQueen and the crew for many reasons. And we soon know who the trustworthy guys and the poor guys are. Richard Attenborough plays a superior guy. He falls in care for with a young Chinese woman in bondage to the local house of pleasure. Another honorable guy is the Captain of the ship, played by Richard Crenna. He believes in ideals and is certain to act with valor even though he has to earn some hard choices. Steve McQueen is the ultimate great guy though. He acts on instinct and every fade is from the heart.
Then there’s the crew who treat the Coolies badly and fight against every improvement that McQueen wants to implement. They also are willing to almost cause a mutiny when an incident occurs in which the Chinese call for McQueen’s blood. We also inspect the naivety of the missionaries, one of whom is Candice Bergen, who assume that by declaring themselves “stateless persons” the Chinese will not inspect them as Americans. The film is a series of battles. Some of the battles are with guns. Others are proper ones. Together they accomplish a mammoth mosaic of high adventure coupled with questions of intervention. There are no easy answers.
The DVD has several features by Robert Wise in which he discusses the making of the film. However, to my disappointment, they are all in audio only. We hear his exclaim superimposed over a static scene or the logo from the film. After all the high adventure of the film, I was bored by these and didn’t seek them.
However, the film stands alone on its possess. It’s almost three hours long, but yet every moment is action packed with complex interweaving stories. There isn’t one listless fragment and all of the acting is gigantic. I loved it. I therefore give it an extremely high recommendation. Not to be missed.
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