The Sand Pebbles (1966) is an epic war drama directed by Robert Wise, starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Candice Bergen, and Mako. Based on the novel by Richard McKenna, the film is set in 1920s China during the period of political unrest and nationalist uprisings. McQueen plays Jake Holman, a rebellious and skilled engineer assigned to the USS San Pablo, a U.S. Navy gunboat patrolling the Yangtze River. His arrival disrupts the ship’s rigid hierarchy, leading to conflicts with both his fellow sailors and the local Chinese population.

As Holman struggles to fit into military life, he forms friendships with a kindhearted sailor, Frenchy (Attenborough), and a young Chinese laborer, Po-han (Mako), whom he teaches to operate the ship’s engine. Meanwhile, political tensions escalate, and the crew finds themselves caught between their duty as foreign military personnel and the growing anti-Western sentiment in China. Holman’s growing disillusionment with the mission and his tragic experiences highlight the film’s themes of imperialism, individualism, and the cost of war.

Upon its release, The Sand Pebbles was well-received and became a box-office hit, earning eight Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Though it lost to A Man for All Seasons, the film has remained a respected classic for its historical depth and McQueen’s performance.

It remains one of the best films exploring U.S. military intervention in Asia, foreshadowing America’s struggles in Vietnam, which were unfolding at the time of the film’s release.