Main Cast: Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn, John McIntire, Andrea King, Carl Esmond
Release Year: 1952
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
Plot
Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn play two seal-hunting rivals in this adventure film set in the days when Alaska was a Russian territory. Peck is adventuring seafarer Jonathan Clark, who falls in love with Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Ann Blyth) while the countess is in San Francisco fleeing an arranged marriage to the vile Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond). The Countess wants to hire a ship to take her to Sitka, AK, where her uncle, General Ivan Vorashilov (Sig Rumann), is governor. Portugee (Quinn) can't raise money for the voyage, so the countess agrees to sail with Clark, and the two quickly fall in love. But Prince Semyon sails into San Francisco just as Clark and the Countess are about to be wed, and the prince abducts her and takes her to Alaska, threatening to kill her uncle if she doesn't marry him. Clark and Portugee then agree to race to Alaska, with the winner getting the other's ship and the seal catch. Clark's boat wins the race, but the Russians arrest both the men as seal poachers. Countess Marina agrees to marry Semyon if he will order the seal hunters released. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Review
Although it has its ups and downs, The World in His Arms is generally a good action-adventure-romance yarn. Chief among its assets is the thrilling sea race that is the centerpiece of the film, with Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn racing up the west coast in a competition that will make one and ruin the other. Credit goes to director Raoul Walsh, whose muscular style is ideal for this type of sequence; he revels in the ocean spray, the waves, the beauty of the magnificent ships in combat. There's so much spirit and heart in this sequence that you can practically touch it. (Credit is also due the expert work of cinematographer Harold Belfer and editor Frank Gross in this section.) If the rest of the film were as exciting as this section, it would be a masterpiece. Unfortunately, this isn't the case -- but fortunately, much of the rest of the film is still quite good and at its worst it's still average. The biggest problem lies with Peck, a superb actor who brings enormous skill to the part but who simply lacks the overt derring-do and danger that is part of the role. No such qualms with Quinn, who plays the part as if he were born to it. Ann Blyth does well as the love interest, and looks lovely. Not perfect, World is still well worth a look. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Alexander Golitzen - Art Director, Bernard Herzbrun - Art Director, Harold Belfer - Choreography, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Raoul Walsh - Director, Frank Gross - Editor, Frank Skinner - Composer (Music Score), Russell Metty - Cinematographer, Aaron Rosenberg - Producer, Borden Chase - Screenwriter, Horace McCoy - Screenwriter, Rex Beach - Book Author
In 1850 San Francisco, Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Ann Blyth) flees from an arranged marriage to Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond). She books passage with the "Portuguese" (Anthony Quinn) to Sitka, where her uncle Governor Ivan Vorashilov (Sig Ruman) can protect her.
When the Portuguese's bitter rival, Captain Jonathan Clark (Gregory Peck), frees his shanghaied crew, she sends a man to negotiate with him instead. However, Jonathan hates all Russians and turns down the offer. In desperation, Maria goes to the party he is throwing and, pretending to be the Countess's companion, gets him to change his mind. As he shows her the sights of the city in one whirlwind night, they fall in love. Jonathan proposes marriage and she gladly accepts.
However, Prince Semyon finds Marina and takes her to Sitka. Believing Maria has tricked him, Jonathan races the Portuguese to Alaska, recklessly wagering his ship on who gets there first. Jonathan wins, but that doesn't stop the Portuguese from trying to steal his ship anyway. Unluckily, while both crews are brawling, a Russian gunboat appears and takes them all captive to Sitka.
There, Prince Semyon forces Marina to agree to marry him in return for Jonathan's freedom. Jonathan and his men double back, rescue Marina, and sail away.
