ACORN
Member
I know there are a lot of fans of this Steve McQueen classic. It's one of my favorites. Tonight at 8 PM as noted above. If you've not seen it check it out!
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The Sand Pebbles on TCM 8 PM Eastern
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Abbynormal
Member
M1903 heaven. Plus Steve McQueen
Wyatt p. Tato
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I remember seeing this when it first came out in 1966. Since I was just draft age and a prime candidate for Southeast Asia it made me really question if I would accept being forced into military service.
Steve did some good BAR work in that movie!
okiegtrider
Member
Watching it now while I browse a little here on the forum. 
Cpo1944
Member
The book was written by a Navy Chief Machinist Mate - Richard Mackenna???- can't remember- and it was great! If you can find it = terrific read.I read it 30+ years ago and still remember it fondly.I liked the movie as well- both worthwhile.
Saw that movie when it came out, and loved it!
It made me want to visit Asia--and for my sins, Uncle Sam sent me a few years later.
It's still one of my favorite movies, and I think it was McQueen's best role.
It made me want to visit Asia--and for my sins, Uncle Sam sent me a few years later.
It's still one of my favorite movies, and I think it was McQueen's best role.
Ogandydancer
Member
Just finished watching it on the tube. It is funny that they are celebrating Richard Attenborough and McQueen had such a prevelent part. Definitely one of his best movies. Bullett, The Great Escape and Sand Pebbles are my three favorites with him.
John Frederick Bell
Member
Lucked into the book a year or so back. It's worth reading in its own right and I'm of the opinion it can stand apart from the movie. It's also an interesting look into a little-seen history of the U.S. Navy by a man who was there.
Offhand, I remember one primary difference being the amount of time dedicated to the other Treaty powers in the region...unless I misremember, it seems the Sand Pebbles spent a fair percent of their liberty time running with the crew of a British gunboat.
Of further note, the book makes very little reference to the Model of 1903 service rifle. The Lewis is mentioned in a few places, but I don't recall reading anything about the BAR (could be that Holman carried one in the final gunfight and I just don't remember). Assuming the memory I have IS correct the primary weaponry of the San Pablo consisted of boarding cutlasses, Colt automatic pistols, and...interesting enough...Winchester trench and riot shotguns.
Those get no screentime in the movie, but their presence squares with some of the other things I've read about the China gunboats and their anti-pirate duties.
Offhand, I remember one primary difference being the amount of time dedicated to the other Treaty powers in the region...unless I misremember, it seems the Sand Pebbles spent a fair percent of their liberty time running with the crew of a British gunboat.
Of further note, the book makes very little reference to the Model of 1903 service rifle. The Lewis is mentioned in a few places, but I don't recall reading anything about the BAR (could be that Holman carried one in the final gunfight and I just don't remember). Assuming the memory I have IS correct the primary weaponry of the San Pablo consisted of boarding cutlasses, Colt automatic pistols, and...interesting enough...Winchester trench and riot shotguns.
Those get no screentime in the movie, but their presence squares with some of the other things I've read about the China gunboats and their anti-pirate duties.
Don't forget the Thomas Crowne Affair with Faye Dunaway
When i first joined my local American Legion post many years ago one of the members had been an old China sailor. I once asked him what he thought of the movie and he said he thought it fairly accurate. Main difference was that the bar maids didn't start getting that pretty until the third round or so. Oddly enough he joined the American Legion because at the time the VFW would not let him in.
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I remember the movie. My favorite part was when the American ship was going to battle the Chinese Junks blockading the river. The Americans were outnumbered. And then the Stars and Stripes was hosting and waving in the breeze and the order was given "Commerce Firing".
cmort666
Member
I read it when I was in college in the '70s. It goes into a lot more detail than the movie, especially about the morale problems on board. I like them both.
cmort666
Member
The final scenes were filmed at the Korean Folk Village south of Seoul, ROK. I was actually there in '81, and it was very interesting to be some place I'd seen in a favorite movie when I was in grammar school.
