Maps of Movies
The Sand Pebbles (1966)
Where The Sand Pebbles says it takes place, and where it was really shot.
The China of this film was never filmed in China: Shanghai, Changsha and the Yangtze were Keelung, Tamsui and Sai Kung.
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Scenes and places
Shanghai waterfront, built at Keelung (1926)
In 1926 China, Navy machinist Jake Holman transfers to the river gunboat USS San Pablo as its new engineer.
Set in Shanghai Bund (harbor) — The harbor of 1926 Shanghai where the story begins.
Filmed at Keelung Port, Taiwan — Filming began here on November 22, 1965; a Bund set was built for the harbor scenes. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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A Shanghai street on Di Hwa Street, Taipei (1926)
Set in Shanghai street — A busy street of 1926 Shanghai.
Filmed at Di Hwa Street, Taipei — A typical Shanghai street was filmed in the narrow, crowded streets of Taipei, including heavily traveled Di Hwa Street. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The San Pablo's berth at Hankow (1926)
Aboard the San Pablo, Holman refuses the coolies who do the crew's duties and takes personal responsibility for the engine room.
Set in Hankow berth — The gunboat's berth at Hankow.
Shore leave in Changsha, filmed at Tamsui (1926)
The sailors on shore leave head to a bar and brothel, and Frenchy learns what it would cost to free the bargirl Maily.
Set in Changsha (river port town) — The river port where the sailors spend shore leave.
Filmed at Tamsui, Taiwan — Tam Sui, representing "Changsha", was home for the company for more than three months; the gunboat was a permanent resident. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The mob scene at Paoshan (1926)
A Chinese mob catches Po-han ashore, and Holman must decide whether to break the captain's order to stay neutral.
Set in Port town shore — A crowd scene on the river shore.
The Red Candle Happiness Gardens (1926)
Frenchy tries to buy Maily's freedom, but instead she is put up for auction and a fight breaks out.
Set in Red Candle Happiness Gardens — The bar and brothel where Maily works.
The Hankow Bund (1926)
Set in Hankow Bund — The waterfront of Hankow.
The upriver mission (1926)
The gunboat reaches the mission, but Jameson and Shirley Eckert refuse to leave.
Set in Upriver mission — The remote mission where Jameson and Shirley Eckert teach.
Filmed at Fox ranch, Malibu, California — The story's mission was built on a half-acre at the Fox ranch at Malibu, fashioned after a Buddhist temple on the Chinese mainland. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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The junk blockade on the Yangtze (1926)
The San Pablo meets a line of tethered junks blocking the river. Under fire, Holman chops through the rope.
Set in Yangtze River — The river stretch blocked by tethered junks.
Filmed at Sai Kung, Hong Kong — The junk fight was staged in a narrow neck of water at Sai Kung; battle filming took a month. Google Maps · Apple Maps
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Characters
- Jake Holman — A Navy machinist who becomes the engineer of the gunboat USS San Pablo.
- Frenchy — A seasoned sailor who befriends Holman.
- Shirley Eckert — A schoolteacher assistant at a mission upriver.