My Weapons Beef
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Sand Pebbles
Toshi51 — 11 years ago(September 15, 2014 08:26 AM)
This is an outstanding movie, well acted and directed and based closely on the book. There certainly was a lot of attention to historical detail.
There are two minor prop issues which have bugged me since it was released in 1966. I cannot watch this film without being annoyed by them.
The Sand Pablo's main armament was supposedly a 12 pound, 75mm naval gun which was standard on most of the China River Gunboats. The prop used in this movie was pretty fake in action- no recoil and not much muzzle blast. The barrel was more like a field artillery howitzer than a naval gun. Not a big deal but it took away from the battle scene by being kind of wimpy looking when firing.
The boarding cutlasses carried by Collins, Bordellis and Franks were not the then current Model 1917 pattern but the ancient pattern from The War Between the States. OK, the older pattern with its polished brass was prettier but not period correct.
These are minor points but after watching this movie many time over nearly 50 years, it is kid of like a small burr under a saddle blanket. It keeps on irritating.
Thank you for your patience reading this.