The Sand Pebbles

1966 • 182 minutes
4.7
53 reviews
84%
Tomatometer
PG-13
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

China, 1926. The country is torn by revolution and exploited by foreigners. Jake Holman, an American sailor who serves as an engineer aboard the U.S.S. San Pablo, a gunboat which patrols the Yangtze River simply to maintain an American presence in China, wants no part of the whole messy situation and would prefer to simply stay below deck and keep the engines running. He is more at home with machines than people. He is forced to get involved when the gunboat is sent to rescue a group of missionaries upriver at the China Light Mission. Holman is made a part of the landing party and assigned to escort the missionaries back to the safety of the San Pablo. The spiritual life espoused at the mission affects him and draws him out of his shell. For once in his life, he feels a sense of belonging and falls in love with one of the missionaries, young Shirley Eckert, drawn to her innocence and compassion...
Rating
PG-13

Ratings and reviews

4.7
53 reviews
Otto
12 January 2017
Plot, acting, soundtrack, EVERYTHING. Excellent movie touching upon a rarely discussed or portrayed theme/period in time. A true cinema gem.
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Robert Dean
26 November 2021
Awsome movie.Bar scenes made me think back to my Navy days in the Phillipines.
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Michael Hill
12 November 2022
not your usual flag waiver- great film
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