I forgot to mention a particularly sketchy scene where Steve McQueen shows Mako the engine. I guess it is supposed to be endearing, but it comes off pretty poorly.
I saw this on the big screen when it was released. I was a child but I was taken with a friend of mine and his mother. I remember the awe I felt at the cinematography, I'd never seen anything like it! I loved the movie and I re watch the film every 10 years or so, and have been doing so now for almost 6 decades. It's a masterpiece.
I met Robert Anderson at a theatre conference about 30 years ago, and I too love his writing. He was a very gracious and approachable man. It was so kind and attentive. It was nice to meet him and his wife, actress Teresa Wright.
I first saw this movie at the drive-in my parents took me to in the late 1960s, and I was swept away by it immediately. It inspired me to seek a career in the US Foreign Service and without exaggeration has shaped my life. I am so pleased to see someone from a younger generation embracing this film for the masterpiece it is! I could chat about this movie for hours on end.
Dad was a teenager in WW2 and served along side of some of the China Seas sailors. He was impressed by the amount booze they could consume. They were adapt at making alcoholic drinks from 'Torpedo Juice', fuel used to power torpedoes. Sand Pebbles was one of his favorite movies. Like Steve McQueen, dad was a navy 'machinist', aka boiler tender.
My father was a teenager in the Navy during WW2 and a machinist mate as well. He went back into the navy in 1946 and stayed in until 1964. In 1945 he was on the first ship into Yokohama, in late 40s in China, and later Korea. This was one of his favorite movies.
This film has haunted me since I first saw it on television when I was a kid. To me, it played more like a horror film. From the engine coolie getting crushed in the engine to Makoto Iwamatsu’s nightmarish torture scene to the end with the invisible enemy. Truly a powerful film, and probably Steve McQueen’s most nuanced role. Great supporting cast with some of my favorite actors: Richard Attenborough (with a surprisingly good American accent), Richard Crenna, Gavin McCloud, Simon Oakland and James Hong.
There were 14 minutes missing from the standard version of the film, which would be the one most of us have seen on TV. Those scenes do explain some inconsistencies (from what I've heard). Robert Wise was interviewed after a retrospective screening of the film and he admitted that he probably should have excised some of the sub-plots. The film is very memorable and uncompromising for that era. I still think (as much as I enjoy it) that is a bit uneven. The casting is perfect. The production design, photography, music, etc. are all top class. I'd have to read the original novel to have a firm idea of whether Wise could have focused, or paced the film differently. Alex North was the first composer hired to score the film. He reacted negatively to the grim, bleak and violent nature of the story. Jerry Goldsmith was going to score 'Grand Prix', but 20th Century Fox re-assigned him.
"Hello Engine". I also like all the Browning Automatic Rifle porn. I watched this one on WTBS when they used to do one movie in the morning and one in the afternoon and I stayed home "sick" from school.
Impressive review of an underrated and unusual movie. I thought that your criticism of MASH was well observed! Good to see a lengthy review which does justice to the film. It would be interesting to know how the film was received when it was first released given the obvious parallels with the Vietnam situation.
Love the book and the movie. My late father really liked the movie as he had been a machinist mate in the Navy during WWII and Korea, and was stationed in China when the Communist took over in 1949.
How did Holman, MM1 with 8-plus years of service become immediately the engine boss over another MM1 with 12-plus years of service who was also part of the engine crew?
I loved the showing of the engine to the little coolie it was so good of him to explain how it works to his new friend. This movie is already so diverse and gentle at the same time. The good old days. And then came communism 60 millions slaughtered and now the roughest totalitarian regime in the history of the planet. And America is a s...thole now lol
probably was referring to Lawrence of Arabia. I actually think it's a cool movie, but it's a bit dated in substance and form imo. I usually suggest that people watch Lion of the Desert instead. That said it's been almost a decade since I've seen Lawrence of Arabia so I'd have to watch it again before making too many more bold claims.
@@TobinFitzthum If you think Lion of the Desert is better than Lawrence of Arabia - probably one of the ten best films ever made - you really need to see Lawrence of Arabia again.
Imagine needing to forewarn and apologize for dialogues and depictions in a movie that was made before you were born or your parents even met! Anyway, great movie and still culturally relevant because it provokes thought. If you can watch this and not sit there in deep self reflection, meditation, and intense reasoning, avoid similar movies. Your brain can only process Fridays, Marvels, and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
Just watched this Epic again today. After 60 years, it has lost none of its' power. Gutwrenching. Heartbreaking. Wise directed McQueen in his first movie, Somebody Up There Likes Me.
Dark movie don't end to happy. But Steve McQueen and Cesena and jurassic park guy. And tubby bastard attenburroug. Candice and Mako. Also a very famed actor. Kinda learn some history boxer rebellion. Also based on actual events. Different names and dates. Also I'm related to cheng ki shek. Through marrage. Mu aunt is 67 in line to be emporrass of China.i just love my aunt. She needs to be nothing other than a Than that. She's a lovely lady. It's a very good movie. However I'm sad people don't know the history. A bit sad
