The Sand Pebbles

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.

The drama wavers between being compelling and reaching too far for greater historical significance, that it loses its bearings.