September 15th: THE SAND PEBBLES (Robert Wise, 1966)
NOTE: This film will be projected in the high-definition Blu-ray format.
In post-WWI China, a rebellious machinist joins the crew of a U.S. patrol boat on the Yangtze River as tensions rise between the crew and Nationalist Party revolutionaries.
Director Robert Wise began his career as an editor, most notably working at RKO Pictures with Orson Welles on Citizen Kane, then directing films for the studio's new horror division under innovative producer Val Lewton. Wise worked in variety of genres over the next 20 years, culminating in his major box office and Academy Award success West Side Story.
Wise elected to use his clout to adapt the recently-released historical novel The Sand Pebbles, but funding for the ambitious production became difficult to secure, and pre-production lasted years. In the interim, as a favor to studio 20th Century Fox, Wise agreed to direct The Sound Of Music, which turned out to be his biggest hit (and netted him two more Oscars), and gave him the clearance to spend considerably more time and money finishing his labor of love.
Cast in the lead was antiestablishment hero Steve McQueen, currently at the height of his popularity after The Great Escape and arguably the biggest star in Hollywood. McQueen was very hands-on with his roles, insisting on doing most of his own stunts, and trimming the script's dialogue to fit his internalized style. Also starring are American ingenue Candice Bergen, British actor/producer Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park), Richard Crenna (First Blood), and Japanese actor Mako.
The majority of the film was shot on location in Taiwan and Hong Kong. A replica gunboat was built specifically for the production, and at $250,000 was the most expensive single prop for any film in history. Because of political, technical, and weather difficulties, a planned two-month shoot stretched out to seven months. Interiors were shot back in Hollywood on the Fox studio lot.
By the time the film was released in 1966, parallels were drawn between the story and America's increasing involvement in Vietnam. Wise's portrayal of race relations and overall humanism set the film apart from similar contemporary films in the genre. McQueen, so mentally and physically exhausted by the production, did not work again for over a year.
It was a financial and critical success, and received eight Academy Award nominations including those for Picture, McQueen (his sole career nod), Mako, the cinematography, and the score. Attenborough won a Golden Globe for his performance. Wise considered this one of his favorite completed films, and would screen it yearly after its release for other cast and crew members.
Running time is 3 hrs.
In post-WWI China, a rebellious machinist joins the crew of a U.S. patrol boat on the Yangtze River as tensions rise between the crew and Nationalist Party revolutionaries.
Director Robert Wise began his career as an editor, most notably working at RKO Pictures with Orson Welles on Citizen Kane, then directing films for the studio's new horror division under innovative producer Val Lewton. Wise worked in variety of genres over the next 20 years, culminating in his major box office and Academy Award success West Side Story.
Wise elected to use his clout to adapt the recently-released historical novel The Sand Pebbles, but funding for the ambitious production became difficult to secure, and pre-production lasted years. In the interim, as a favor to studio 20th Century Fox, Wise agreed to direct The Sound Of Music, which turned out to be his biggest hit (and netted him two more Oscars), and gave him the clearance to spend considerably more time and money finishing his labor of love.
Cast in the lead was antiestablishment hero Steve McQueen, currently at the height of his popularity after The Great Escape and arguably the biggest star in Hollywood. McQueen was very hands-on with his roles, insisting on doing most of his own stunts, and trimming the script's dialogue to fit his internalized style. Also starring are American ingenue Candice Bergen, British actor/producer Richard Attenborough (Jurassic Park), Richard Crenna (First Blood), and Japanese actor Mako.
The majority of the film was shot on location in Taiwan and Hong Kong. A replica gunboat was built specifically for the production, and at $250,000 was the most expensive single prop for any film in history. Because of political, technical, and weather difficulties, a planned two-month shoot stretched out to seven months. Interiors were shot back in Hollywood on the Fox studio lot.
By the time the film was released in 1966, parallels were drawn between the story and America's increasing involvement in Vietnam. Wise's portrayal of race relations and overall humanism set the film apart from similar contemporary films in the genre. McQueen, so mentally and physically exhausted by the production, did not work again for over a year.
It was a financial and critical success, and received eight Academy Award nominations including those for Picture, McQueen (his sole career nod), Mako, the cinematography, and the score. Attenborough won a Golden Globe for his performance. Wise considered this one of his favorite completed films, and would screen it yearly after its release for other cast and crew members.
Running time is 3 hrs.
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