The San Pebbles (1 Viewer)

[mestell]

Spent the morning watching "The Sand Pebbles" in bluray DVD courtesy of Netflix. I forgot how really good this movie is. One of Steve McQueens better performances and probably the best performance of Richard Krenna. Its 3 hours long and actually has an intermission pause. It also gave me some great perspective and ideas for the K&C 1927 USN/USMC/China display I have started working on. I highly recommend the flick - its a good "watch".
Mike

 

[DCN1898]

It is a great movie. The first time that I showed to my wife, she thought that end was going to be hokey with McQueen getting out of the temple. The ending left her speechless.

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

I'm not disputing you, Mike; it's a great film...I just think you have lost all perspective...after all, a young Candice Bergen was in that film!! Where are your priorities, man!

And btw...yes, there are some great cinematic images, inspiration for a great diorama.

-Nicholas

 

[Spitfrnd]

It is a great movie and well restored for Blu-ray. It was one of my first Blu-ray purchases. McQueen was at the very top of his game and Crenna was excellent as well.

 

[lancer]

Agree that this is a great movie. "Holman, come down!". This is one of only 3 movies I can remember getting my dad to go see with me. The other 2 were "The Blue Max" and "Breaker Morant". Not a bad trio of shows, eh? The fight at the river boom was a fantastically well done combat sequence. Just a real good movie. -- lancer

 

[Spitfrnd]

Agree that this is a great movie. "Holman, come down!". This is one of only 3 movies I can remember getting my dad to go see with me. The other 2 were "The Blue Max" and "Breaker Morant". Not a bad trio of shows, eh? The fight at the river boom was a fantastically well done combat sequence. Just a real good movie. -- lancer

That is an impressive trio. Interestingly enough, the hero is essentially sacrificed at the end in all three. I am not sure that that helped make them great but it did seem to fit in each case.

 

[lancer]

That is an impressive trio. Interestingly enough, the hero is essentially sacrificed at the end in all three. I am not sure that that helped make them great but it did seem to fit in each case.

That's a great catch. I never put that together. In the book "The Blue Max", the Peppard character, Stachel, does not die. This lead to 2 sequels Hunter wrote, "The Tin Cravat" and "The Blood Order", both with Stachel as the main character. Neither were as good as the first book, but they weren't terrible, either. -- Al

 

[Spitfrnd]

That's a great catch. I never put that together. In the book "The Blue Max", the Peppard character, Stachel, does not die. This lead to 2 sequels Hunter wrote, "The Tin Cravat" and "The Blood Order", both with Stachel as the main character. Neither were as good as the first book, but they weren't terrible, either. -- Al

Ah I did not know about the sequels, I need to track those down. I love Peppard in the Blue Max. The opening sequence from the trenches to his tossing of his bottle to the sargent really resonate for me as well. There is a rumor that Peter Jackson is considering a re-make of the Blue Max but it would be hard to match the protrayals of Stachel, Willy and the Field Marshall. Really fine job of acting by all.

 

[lancer]

Ah I did not know about the sequels, I need to track those down. I love Peppard in the Blue Max. The opening sequence from the trenches to his tossing of his bottle to the sargent really resonate for me as well. There is a rumor that Peter Jackson is considering a re-make of the Blue Max but it would be hard to match the protrayals of Stachel, Willy and the Field Marshall. Really fine job of acting by all.

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding them. They are both plentiful (abebooks) and pretty cheap, also. The original book, The Blue Max, can bring big prices in it's first HB edition. I really liked everything about the movie and can't imagine that a remake could be any better, especially if it is all CGI type special effects. -- Al

 

[Spitfrnd]

You shouldn't have too much trouble finding them. They are both plentiful (abebooks) and pretty cheap, also. The original book, The Blue Max, can bring big prices in it's first HB edition. I really liked everything about the movie and can't imagine that a remake could be any better, especially if it is all CGI type special effects. -- Al

I tend to agree the original BM is a tough act to follow. However, CGI has its values and if anyone know how to use it well it is Jackson. That said it is still only one of many rumours about how Jackson is going to apply his substantial recent purchase of WWI Aircraft and awknowledged fascination with the air combat of the war. Maybe he will re-make Hell's Angles. Lord knows that while the dog fighting re-enactment was extraordinary for its time, it really could use a face lift and much better acting.

 

[lancer]

Spent the morning watching "The Sand Pebbles" in bluray DVD courtesy of Netflix. I forgot how really good this movie is. One of Steve McQueens better performances and probably the best performance of Richard Krenna. Its 3 hours long and actually has an intermission pause. It also gave me some great perspective and ideas for the K&C 1927 USN/USMC/China display I have started working on. I highly recommend the flick - its a good "watch".
Mike

How odd is it that I just came across this movie on our local retro channel and am watching it as I type this. Frenchy just went over the side at night. -- lancer

 

[lancer]

I tend to agree the original BM is a tough act to follow. However, CGI has its values and if anyone know how to use it well it is Jackson. That said it is still only one of many rumours about how Jackson is going to apply his substantial recent purchase of WWI Aircraft and awknowledged fascination with the air combat of the war. Maybe he will re-make Hell's Angles. Lord knows that while the dog fighting re-enactment was extraordinary for its time, it really could use a face lift and much better acting.

I shouldn't quibble about special effects and WW1 movies. I'll take what I can get. WW1 air war is my favorite of all military periods. Hell's Angels could do with a remake as long as they keep the Zeppelins in there. -- Al

 

[binder001]

In the days before CGI and effects-driven movies "The Sand Pebbles" actually had to make do with a good script and cast! The producers did a good job of getting the idea of China in the throes of change and the people who were caught up in it but couldn't quite understand why their world was changing.

They also did a nice job of converting that 150-foot diesel welded-hull coastal craft to an 1890's vintage US gunboat. I like the story but for me the high part of the film is the San Pablo breaking the river barricade.

Jerry Goldsmith's excellent music certainly helped also. I've got the CD.

Gary B.

 

[Spitfrnd]

In the days before CGI and effects-driven movies "The Sand Pebbles" actually had to make do with a good script and cast! The producers did a good job of getting the idea of China in the throes of change and the people who were caught up in it but couldn't quite understand why their world was changing.

They also did a nice job of converting that 150-foot diesel welded-hull coastal craft to an 1890's vintage US gunboat. I like the story but for me the high part of the film is the San Pablo breaking the river barricade.

Jerry Goldsmith's excellent music certainly helped also. I've got the CD.

Gary B.

NO question the San Pablo was a key star and an amazing feat, especially at the time. Its importance to the movie is akin to the Surprise in Master and Commander or the U-571 in that movie. I rate all of those conversions or constructions impressive achievements that were at the heart of the successes of those movies.

You are also quite right about the SP cast and script. It is also true that many more recent movies trade raw impact for acting and have no time for subtlety. Of course it is not CGI that is the problem, it is how it is used. Certainly it need not overwhelm the story or the actors but that is the job of the screenwriters and mostly the director (and of course the producers, if they are active) to prevent. CGI is just another tool of film making and it can open horizons that never before existed. Without it, LOTR would have just been a nice story but with it, it became a classic. Jackson did a marvelous job preventing the CGI in those movies from subordinating all the other marvelous pieces and the result speaks for itself, IMO.

In the end it is cost and return. The use of CGI now enables film makers to tackle epics that would otherwise be cost prohibitive with conventional means. That means they can do movies that otherwise we would never get. For that, I am most grateful. Of course any good thing can be abuse with overuse (like handheld cameras and quick cuts) and it also permits vacuous extravaganzas like Transformers and GI Joe. Personally I can accept the bad (which I don't have to watch) in order to get the good.

 

[modwalls]

Another classic that I watch when its on. But being claustrophobic, I would never go down inside one of those engine arms.