The Sand Pebbles
US (1966): Drama/Romance/War
Steve McQueen received his only Academy Award nomination for his performance in this epic-scale war drama, based on the novel by Richard McKenna. In 1926, as China teeters on the edge of political revolution in the midst of a civil war, an American battle ship, the USS San Pablo, is ordered to patrol the Yangtze River to represent and protect American interests. While the San Pablo may be an American ship, much of the labor is actually performed by Chinese locals willing to work for American money, while stern but inexperienced commanding officer Captain Collins (Richard Crenna) frequently drills his charges, unsure what else to do. A new engineer, Capt. Jake Holman (Steve McQueen) is assigned to the San Pablo and immediately makes enemies among the crew -- he prefers to do his own work rather than farm it out to others, and the one Chinese man who works by his side, Po Han (Mako), is treated as an apprentice rather than a servant. Holman also falls in love with an idealistic American missionary (Candice Bergen), while his shipmate Frenchy (Richard Attenborough) loses his heart to a lovely Chinese girl, only to discover she's a "hostess" and her hand will cost him $200. As Holman's methods and attitudes continue to anger his comrades, they find themselves increasingly at odds with the Chinese, especially after Frenchy's girlfriend becomes pregnant and Po Han is captured by revolutionary forces and branded a traitor. Robert Wise directs. (Mark Deming, All Movie Guide)
8 nominations
· Best Picture 1966: Robert Wise - Producer (Argyle-Solar, 20th Century-Fox)
· Actor 1966: Steve McQueen
· Supporting Actor 1966: Mako
· Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1966: Boris Leven - Art Direction, Walter M. Scott, John Sturtevant, William R. Kiernan - Set Decoration
· Cinematography (Color) 1966: Joseph P. MacDonald
· Film Editing 1966: William H. Reynolds
· Music Scoring Awards (Original Music Score) 1966: Jerry Goldsmith
· Sound 1966: James P. Corcoran (20th Century-Fox Studio Sound Department)