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The Sand Pebbles Trivia Quiz

An excellent 1966 American movie, based on the novel of the same name by Richard McKenna.

A multiple-choice quiz by wjames. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
wjames

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
366,773

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
207

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The role of sailor Jake Holman resulted in which famous actor's only Academy Award nomination? Hint

Richard Crenna

Paul Newman

Steve McQueen

Richard Attenborough

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was the name of the fictional U.S. gunboat in the movie "The Sand Pebbles"? Hint

San Jacinto

Sao Paulo

San Pablo

Panay

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which 19-year-old actress had her second movie role in 1966 playing Holman's love interest, a teacher at a Chinese mission? Hint

Tippi Hedren

Ally Sheedy

Ali MacGraw

Candice Bergen

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which Japanese actor, who traditionally used only one name, played the role of engine room coolie who is taught by Holman? Hint

Arata

Erita

Koyuki

Mako

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Question 5 of 10

5. English actor Richard Attenborough played a key role as an American sailor in "The Sand Pebbles". What was the sailor's "ethnic" nickname? Hint

Yankee Joe

Mac

Frenchy

Scottie

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the name of the fictional mission that the ship in "The Sand Pebbles" is sent to save during the Chinese Revolution? Hint

China Inland

China Light

Changsha Mission

Whangpo Mission

7. In one of the pivotal scenes of the movie, American sailor Jake Holman teaches a Chinese coolie how the ship's engine works. What pidgin phrase do the two use to mean "water", or steam that has passed through the engine? Hint

Sleepy stim

Stop wow

Strong stim

Main stim

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Question 8 of 10

8. French novelist Emmanuelle Arsan plays the role of Maily in "The Sand Pebbles", listed in credits with her stage name of Marayat Andriane. What was her character's occupation in the movie? Hint

Bar "hostess"

Coolie

Prostitute

Revolutionary leader

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which phrase is used to indicate the work done by the Chinese workers aboard the U.S. ship, a phrase that continues to mean something done solely by a certain group of people? Hint

Short work

Chinese laundry

Dirty work

Rice bowl

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Question 10 of 10

10. In "The Sand Pebbles", the mutinous crew of the dirty ship are given one last chance at glory, to "die clean", by fighting their way through Chinese Revolutionary forces to rescue U.S. missionaries. Where does this pitched battle take place? Hint

Courtyard of the mission

Kowloon Cantonement

Streets of Changsha

Boom across the river

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The role of sailor Jake Holman resulted in which famous actor's only Academy Award nomination?

Answer: Steve McQueen

Of all of Steve McQueen's iconic roles, only this as a humble engine mechanic earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination. "The Sand Pebbles" garnered eight Oscar nominations but won none.

2. What was the name of the fictional U.S. gunboat in the movie "The Sand Pebbles"?

Answer: San Pablo

Naval crews often identify themselves by the name of their ships, referring to themselves, for instance as "San Franciscos". Each naval ship also has a nickname derived from the official name, so that "Sand Pebble" easily flows from 'San Pablo", and so the sailors would call themselves "Sand Pebbles".

3. Which 19-year-old actress had her second movie role in 1966 playing Holman's love interest, a teacher at a Chinese mission?

Answer: Candice Bergen

Candice Bergen debuted in 1966's "The Group", but is better remembered for her second movie of that year, "The Sand Pebbles" as Shirley Eckert, the hero's conscience and love interest. She received a Golden Globe nomination for the role as Most Promising Newcomer.

4. Which Japanese actor, who traditionally used only one name, played the role of engine room coolie who is taught by Holman?

Answer: Mako

Makoto Iwamatsu (Mako) was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Po-Han. Po-Han was instrumental in breaking the "coolie" system aboard ship, much to his pride but also eventual doom.

5. English actor Richard Attenborough played a key role as an American sailor in "The Sand Pebbles". What was the sailor's "ethnic" nickname?

Answer: Frenchy

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Frenchy Burgoyne was a key role, showing that some Americans had quite different attitudes about the Chinese, especially the women. Richard Attenborough won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for the role.

6. What is the name of the fictional mission that the ship in "The Sand Pebbles" is sent to save during the Chinese Revolution?

Answer: China Light

The fictional China Light mission was the scene of the movie's climax, where the naval hero says "I ain't got no more enemies". The location used for filming was a building on the Fox Ranch in Calabasas, CA, now Malibu Creek State Park. The building stood for years after the movie but has since been demolished.

Answer: Sleepy stim

"Strong stim" drives the engine, controlled by the "stop wow" (valve) but in the end becomes "sleepy steam (stim)", "all same water". This is the first time a Chinese worker has been taught how the engine works, allowing him to begin to rise above the level of mere laborer.

8. French novelist Emmanuelle Arsan plays the role of Maily in "The Sand Pebbles", listed in credits with her stage name of Marayat Andriane. What was her character's occupation in the movie?

Answer: Bar "hostess"

Maily claims her job at the bar is "hostess", but she is being sold into prostitution to repay a family debt to the bar owner. She is saved from this fate by an American sailor who marries her, but doesn't enjoy a life of freedom after all.

9. Which phrase is used to indicate the work done by the Chinese workers aboard the U.S. ship, a phrase that continues to mean something done solely by a certain group of people?

Answer: Rice bowl

"It's his rice bowl" described the jobs allotted to the Chinese workers, who have relieved the U.S. sailors of all the more menial tasks so that they can concentrate on their "military duties" so important to the Commanding Officer. Any sailor who wanted to do his own work was accused by his peers of "breaking someone's rice bowl", and quickly became an enemy to both Americans and Chinese.

Answer: Boom across the river

The Battle of the Boom rouses the lethargic and divided crew, uniting them against a common external enemy who has taunted and shamed their ship and nation. Jake Holman, the movie's anti-hero, is heroic in battle at The Boom, and heroic in pacifism later at the mission.

Source: Author wjames

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor spanishliz before going online.
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