The Sand Pebbles | Full Movie | Movies Anywhere

When a movie is this big (and over three hours long) we sit there thinking, “What’s it all for?”

Though the conclusion is abrupt, the journey is riveting, with expert direction by Robert Wise and a proficient screenplay by Robert Anderson.

McQueen's character certainly represents anti-war sentiment, but in the end he is forced to accept his public role -- or possibly his duty -- the matter is ambiguous --and so dies for who knows what.

Steve McQueen gives a dominant performance in Robert Wise's ambitious but flawed period drama, which offers interesting parallels to the US involvment in Vietnam.