MovieChat Forums > The Sand Pebbles (1966) Discussion > Middlebrow Prestige Picture, and it's a ...

Middlebrow Prestige Picture, and it's a shame.

posted 16 years ago by Mr_McLaurel
2 replies | jump to latest

I'm a big Steve McQueen fan. Bullitt, The Getaway, The Cincinnati Kid - these are some of the best action/thrillers to come out of Hollywood. But Steve never really got much respect as an actor, did he? He's always been more of a "cool guy" than a real actor. So I was somewhat excited to see his only Oscar-nominated performance in The Sand Pebbles. It's OK for what it is, and Steve's good in it, but it doesn't have the singularity that the best McQueen movies have. I'll grudgingly give it an 8/10 because there's a lot to like - the cinematography is gorgeous and there's some real emotional heft. But there's just too much prestige-y baggage for me to embrace it or call it a classic. I think I'll watch The Getaway again.

What's the Spanish for drunken bum?

[–] haristas 15 years ago

"The Getaway" is my least favorite McQueen movie. He's like a zombie in it. "The Sand Pebbles" has stood the test of time. McQueen is better in it than he most else he did. You can tell he worked hard on it. It's a classic -- at least of American '60s Hollywood.

[–] Mr_McLaurel 15 years ago

You and I must have close to inverted taste in movies. The Getaway is fantastic.

What's the Spanish for drunken bum?