MovieChat Forums > The Sand Pebbles (1966) Discussion > Captain COLLINS is very difficult to und...

Captain COLLINS is very difficult to understand

posted 16 years ago by jeffyoung1
18 replies | jump to latest

Much has been written about the brilliant portrayal of Chief Petty Officer Jake Holman by Steve McQueen.
But I would like to ask anyone, especially you guys with any Navy military career experience, to tell me your opinion of the San Pablo's skipper, Lieutenant Collins.

Lieutenant Collins, the captain (skipper) of the San Pablo, is possibly the most complicated character in the movie.

Skipper Collins successfully portrays himself just enough of the straight-laced, stiff-backed, starched collar military martinet - just enough - to keep the men in line and to maintain respect, but he obviously knows when to bend just a little at the right time. And captain Collins does indeed care for the sailors under his command and these men are more than just disposable military personnel assets to Collins. In his own way he can show a subtle paternalism for his men. I felt extreme appreciation for his canny wisdom in not threatening or pressing his men during a critically stressful time, and as they bordered on mutiny, his wisdom proved appropriate. The youthful executive officer and the master chief remembered the skipper's advice and quietly turned their backs. As the frightened, near-mutinous men began to hear Holman shoveling coal alone in the depths of the gunboat, they quietly returned to their duties.

What I don't understand is how Lieutenant Collins can allow a situation where his military gunboat vessel would be unofficially crewed by a large number of Chinese nationals, even with the knowledge this all started long ago by giving those desperate and starving Chinese food and some gainful employment. This would never do in today's Navy. The only way I can figure this was tolerated was because of the San Pablo's extreme isolation...out of sight, out of mind, so to say. Also, the San Pablo plied the same, limited waterways in central China. So it's route and dock were always predictable. I would expect a straight-laced skipper like Collins to absolutely oppose the 'shadow crew' arrangement that occurred in his gunboat. I do remember one historical facet of that time period in which it was common for virtually any Westerner with money to hire as many Chinese servants as he or she could afford. At the time the Chinese people were in desperate economic and social straits and any employment was welcome. So nobody would think twice for the sailors and officers of the San Pablo to hire Chinese workers to do the menial tasks on the gunboat ship.

I was very sorry to see skipper Collins die what I thought was an unnecessary death of self-sacrifice at the movie's end. It was unnecessary for Collins to sacrifice himself like that. I suspect that starting with the almost mutiny earlier in the movie, Collins started breaking under the mental stress. His judgment wasn't the same afterwards. He was starting to act in a more reckless, aggressive, kamikazie way.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tightspotkilo 16 years ago

The circumstances of him having allowed that situation to establish itself was one of the central features of the story. Holman spotted the problem right away, which was the source of much of the tension between the characters. Why did he allow it to happen? Collins had a difficult job and he got burdened down by competing considerations, and maybe he got too comfortable with the path of the least resistance. The story is emblematic of much of the US and Britain's relationship with Asia throughout most of the 20th century.

As for his demise, the way I took it was he regarded himself as having failed in his primary mission as captain of the San Pablo and his efforts in the end were to redeem himself.

As for, "this would never do in today's Navy," perhaps not this, but others. How does a state-of-the-art guided missile frigate pull into a middle eastern port for refueling and allow unknown and unidentified small craft to approach and come alongside unimpeded?

And I thought Richard Crenna was great here. He really showed his acting chops. Up to this point in his career his main claim to fame was Luke on The Real McCoys.

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Get the facts first - you can distort them later!
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[–] jeffyoung1 16 years ago

I presuppose you're referring to the hapless U.S.S. Cole, the missile frigate that had a hole blown in her side by a suicidal motorboat packed with explosives?
The problem is, the U.S. or anybody else for that matter, can't just shoot and ask questions later, especially in today's complex geopolitical world relationships. Had that motorboat been some overly enthusiastic merchant and the U.S.S. Cole blown it out of the water, then the international reprecussions even among America's allies, would have been shrieking condemnations and more.

That said, I often get angry when U.S. authorities and the President play it so safe that American lives are expendable rather than risk the ire of some international incident. Hence, among examples, North Korean soldiers sometimes murdered American G.I.s at the Korean de-militarized zone, but the U.S. policy is to avoid a military confrontation at ALL costs, so those poor G.I.s went unavenged. President Johnson showed an incredible lack of spine when he refused to allow his military commanders to send assistance to the U.S.S. Pueblo back in 1967 when North Korean jets were attacking the ship. And this cowardice is from a Texan who stood 6'7'!!! Even the beloved President Reagan screwed up. In 1983, Marine guards at the Marine barracks in Beirut were not allowed ammunition in their M16A1 rifles, of course, for fear of shooting and provoking an international alliance and upsetting a delicate international and national situation in Beirut. Gawd, how I often hate diplomats and their euphemisms for realpolitik and geopolitics, which are terms for back-stabbing and betrayal. After a suicide bomber crashed the gates and killed 240 Marines, only then were later guards allowed ammunition in their M16A1s. Ha, ha, ha, talk about locking the barn door after the horses have bolted and ran off. They might as well not even bothered to guard the ruined barracks afterwards. No suicide bomber was going to come back a second time. They succeeded on the first attempt. President Bush the elder lost his nerve in 1991 and didn't finish off Saddam Hussein when he had the chance, literally snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Bush the younger and many others rankled under the unfinished business and the consequences of leaving Saddam in power. But when Bush the younger tried to right things, the timing couldn't have been worse and America had no international support and a grand mess ensued.

The U.S. still follows a policy of NO confrontation with the North Koreans at ALL costs. So I don't even understand why American military are stationed in Korea in the first place. Let the North Koreans invade the south. South Korea is more than capable of kicking the north's butt. I just get angrier seeing the North Koreans getting more confident at confronting the U.S. They know the U.S. government is not going to fight back, even more so now. Why bother? Let North Korea build a zillion nuclear bombs. Harsh language hasn't stopped them so far. Let 'em sell atomic and nukes to everybody who can afford to plunk down a million bucks. Being able to show off your own North Korean-built atomic bomb in your own house at parties would impress the heck out of everybody and is a sure conversation ice-breaker. Why worry? If everyone has his or her own nuke bomb, who's going to be dumb enough to use it?

[–] tightspotkilo 16 years ago

You say a lot and more than I can or want to respond to, but I will just say it's too often the case that American service members get used, misused, and abused by politicians.

As for the Cole, there was more that could've, indeed should've, taken place to defend the ship short of "shoot and ask questions later." The situation and problem there was not unique or one the Navy hasn't had to deal with for a long time. In the 1960s I was on a WWII vintage destroyer that had been fitted with a newer ASROC weapons system which we were told likely included nuclear warheads. There was an armed watch on the ASROC launcher 24/7 no matter where the ship was, and when we were in Vietnam doing gunfire support on shore positions there were two additional armed watches posted specifically to watch for small craft and swimmers. Approaching small boats were ordered by bullhorn in their language to to turn about, and if they didn't and if they continued to approach a .50 caliber machine gun burst in the water and across the bow always did the trick. It happened a couple of times, and they quickly got the point. That much could've taken place on the Cole. I mentioned the Cole because the problem there was similar to what was in the movie, i.e. degradation of readiness because of compromise to other outside considerations (don't want to offend the locals).

_______________________________________

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!
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[–] rbgrider 16 years ago

Collins appeared to be teetering on the edges of insanity in my opinion.

You may not bet on me but don't bet against me.

[–] The24thFoot 16 years ago

I too think Lt. Collins (he was a Lt. and not a Lt. Commander - Lt. wears 2 full bars while a Lt. Commander wears 2 full bars with a half bar in between) just snapped due to the pressure that he was under. We are talking about a little tiny gunboat in the middle of China during the midst of the Chinese Civil War, there's only him, 1 other officer and maybe 50 enlisted men. I would snap too if was stuck in China on a rinky dink gunboat with 2 Lewis guns, a 3pdr and 52 men.

[–] rcvincelli 16 years ago

There is no doubt that Captain Collins is the most complicated character in the film, and his character is the perfect portrayal of a commissioned officer. His job was not easy, and under the circumstances, his decisions were easily the most difficult. Was Collins on the brink of insanity? Maybe. Or maybe it was just the sum of the ensuing madness…the escalating tensions, the untimely deaths, the near munity, and the final confrontation…he actions were completely believable throughout.

As a former Navy man, it’s not hard to imagine the commanding officer acting exactly as did he under the circumstances, including his inevitable meltdown. When the news came that China was under siege, Collins was in the process of committing suicide, or certainly contemplating it. Was Collins insane? Once again, maybe, but the events preceding it definitely produced the catalyst for his breakdown.

The bottom line is: were his actions plausible?

Hell yes, and it gives the film even more of an air of realism, as if it needed it. This movie really gets under your skin. And Richard Crenna does a remarkable job as Collins. I can’t say enough about the quality of his performance in this magnificent film.

[–] rbgrider 16 years ago

This is a great movie. love this line...."we will not serve to give meaning to your heroics! our lives have there own meaning."

You may not bet on me but don't bet against me.

[–] rcvincelli 15 years ago

Glad you enjoyed it! And yes, that was a great line in this epic film.

[–] Hancock_the_Superb 15 years ago

I think he was a fairly typical martinet officer caught in an impossible predicament. He and his men were in a position where they were political pawns unable to act, no matter how provoked they were, and I think that is what unhinged Collins. He might have been a fine officer at sea but as the commander of a gunboat on "observation" duty in the middle of a bloody civil war, he was out of his element and had no idea how to deal with the situation.

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[–] cgostel 15 years ago

I wouldn't really describe him as a martinet... The word 'martinet' is not a generic putdown to be used against officers.

Martinets are slaves to regulation, and the whole ship was decidedly not run according to Navy regulation.

[–] Trajanc 15 years ago

In regards to why he allowed the situation with the coolies to develop was because he was principally focused on preparing the ship for battle. Having the coolies on board gave the men more time to run combat drills.

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[–] cgostel 15 years ago

Two small points: Collins was a Lieutenant and Holman was a petty officer. Both in the movie and in the book.

[–] CmdrCody 15 years ago

Yeah....Richard Crenna as Capt. Collins was a brilliant performance. He would have been be flattered to read your comment about his character as "...difficult to understand." Underneath his starched white uniform shell, Captain Collins was enduring increased inner turmoil as the story unfolds. He fought these personal demons when "on deck" of San Pablo, lest they would slip-out in front of the crew.

Captain Collins felt HE was the United States of America, personified...cut off and isolated in the back water of China. He wanted to exhibit a public presence like the ship's flag at the mainmast going into battle. His contacts with other Americans were either spotty (like the wireless communications with Asiatic Fleet HQ in Shanghai), maddening, (like his interaction with the China Light people), or increasingly out-of-touch (with his crew as events slip out of his control).

One thread identified Collins as having a death wish. Oh yes. The man wanted to die, preferably in his uniform and fighting his enemies...outside and inside.

A favorite of my novels and movies. Thanks for reading my comments.

CmdrCody

[–] vpilutis 14 years ago

Please note he was a full LT not an LTC

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