Robert Wise's beautifully photographed production of "The Sand Pebbles" is filled with rousing action that has the audience sitting on the edge of its collective seat during the 3 hours and 11 minutes of its running time.
It is a well-made picture with a background of unsettled China in the '20s, when the war lords were overrunning the land and jockeying for position as leader of an enormous, leaderless population. But this exciting movie has one big defect. It is allowed to run too long.
"THE SAND PEBBLES" a 20th Century Fox release in Panavision and DeLuxe Color. Produced and directed by Robert Wise from a screenplay by Robert Anderson based on a novel by Richard McKenna. Presented at the Rivoli Theater. Running time: 3 hours, 11 minutes plus intermission.
Frenchy......................Richard Attenborough
Collins................................Richard Crenna
Shirley................................Candice Bergen
Maily................................Marayat Andriane
Po-Han.............................................Mako
Jameson...................................Larry Gates
Ensign Bordelles................Charles Robinson
Stawski...............................Simon Oakland
Although there isn't a dull moment in the film, a sharp scissors should have been used on it.
TWENTIETH-CENTURY-FOX presented "The Sand Pebbles" at a gala performance last night at the Rivoli Theater, where it has succeeded the delightful production of "The Sound of Music."
Starring Steve McQueen and Candice Bergen, in her second screen role, the picture is peopled with a big and splendid cast, including Richard Crenna of TV fame, well-known British actor Richard Attenborough, Charles Robinson, Larry Gates, Simon Oakland, a fine Chinese actor named Mako and Marayat Andriane of Thailand in an auspicious debut.THE PICTURE, adapted by Robert Anderson from the novel by Richard McKenna will have a strong appeal to the male element of the audience, as it is filled with perilous but credible adventure material, contains one of the bloodiest and most gruelling boxing bouts I've ever seen on the screen and has several torture scenes that women find hard to bear.
Wise has handled the scenes that have to do with sex with considerable restraint, but even this doesn't make "The Sand Pebbles" a children's picture.
McQUEEN GIVES THE most important and best characterization of his film career as a petty officer in the United States Navy, an expert engineer and a loner, who keeps transferring from one ship to another. The battle scenes carry considerable suspense and the overall effect of an American gunboat on a mission to evacuate American
THERE IS ONE SCENE, however, that doesn't fit the mood of the naval operation. An American missioner damns the flag and speaks of his intention to become stateless by applying to the Geneva Conference for citizenship of the world. It sounded too much like propaganda of the One World movement, the promoters of which have been speaking softly during the past few years.
Over the holidays, the picture will be on a schedule of 10 performances at the Rivoli Theater and thereafter it will be on a schedule of ten performances a week with matinees on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The picture has been photographed in Panavision and DeLuxe color and is very effective on the Rivoli's wide screen.