The Sand Pebbles (1966)

Directed by Robert Wise. Starring Steve McQueen, Richard Crenna, Richard Attenborough, Charles Robinson, Candice Bergen, Mako, Larry Gates, Simon Oakland, Marayat Andriane, Joe Turkel, Ford Rainey, Gavin MacLeod, Joseph Di Reda, Richard Loo, James Hong. [PG-13]

A superior two-hour war picture needlessly stretched to three. Story centers on individualist Navy machinist McQueen and his experiences aboard a river gunboat patrolling China in the 1920s. Subplots offer little that’s new—McQueen clashes with the captain (Crenna), racist attitudes are exposed among both his shipmates and civilians, etc.—and it relies on quality production and above-average acting to fill out dead spots in its epic scope. McQueen gives one of his better performances (earning the only Oscar nod of his career), though his actorly refinement negates the unflappable cool (and movie star charisma) he was known for. Patience is taxed by uninvolving love stories among McQueen and missionary teacher Bergen, second mate Attenborough and local hostess Andriane. Quicker pace, less tolerant editing, and a firmer political stance might have made this one special, but it ends up being closer to routine on a grand scale.

67/100