The World in His Arms (1952)

In San Francisco in 1850, a Russian Countess runs away from an arranged marriage to a Russian Prince and falls into the arms of an American sea captain who occasionally poaches seals in Russian Alaska.

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Borden Chase (screenplay), Horace McCoy (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gregory Peck	...	Capt. Jonathan Clark
Ann Blyth	...	Countess Marina Selanova
Anthony Quinn	...	Portugee
John McIntire	...	Deacon Greathouse
Carl Esmond	...	Prince Semyon
Andrea King	...	Mamie
Eugenie Leontovich	...	Anna Selanova
Hans Conried	...	Eustace - Hotel Clerk
Rhys Williams	...	Eben Cleggett
Sig Ruman	...	General Ivan Vorashilov
Gregory Gaye	...	Colonel Paul Shushaldin (as Gregory Gay)
Bill Radovich	...	Ogeechuk
Bryan Forbes	...	William Cleggett
Henry Kulky	...	Peter, Russian Servant

Storyline

Roistering sea captain Jonathan Clark, who poaches seal pelts from Russian Alaska, meets and woos Russian countess Marina in 1850 San Francisco. Events separate them, but after an exciting sea race to the Pribilof Islands they meet again; now, both are in danger from the schemes of villainous Prince Semyon.

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Plot Keywords:

sea | alaska | race | prince | countess | 

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Taglines:

A Whole New World of Adventure Sweeps the Screen!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | History | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Russian Portuguese

Release Date:

9 October 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rex Beach's The World in His Arms

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$3,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Screenwriter Borden Chase claimed that this was planned as a star vehicle for John Wayne, and that an extensive rewrite was needed to accommodate Gregory Peck in the lead role.

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Goofs

When the Pilgrim is pursuing the Santa Isabella, the ships are shown leaning to port. Shots of Ogeechuk using the telescope show him standing as though the boat deck is flat.

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Quotes

Paul Shushaldin: I advise you to find a crew within 48 hours. I'm not a man to be trifled with.
Portugee: Me, I don't trifle with men either.

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Connections

Referenced in The Return of Don Camillo (1953)

User Reviews

Classic adventure movie about a small group of adventurers facing off mean Russians for Alaska

History records the Unites States purchase of Alaska on March 30, 1867 . This was the realization of a dream that began many years before , when captain Jonathan Clark anchored his schooner , The Pilgrim of Salem , among a thousand abandoned ships that lay rotting in the harbor of San Francisco , 1850 . There captain Clark (Gregory Peck) romancing women and smuggling pelts from Islas Aleutinas and Alaska , Russia . Along the way he meets and woos a gorgeous Russian countess called Marina (Ann Blyth) in 1850 San Francisco . As it deals with a salty sea captain, a beautiful Russian countess, and the love that would span an ocean . Events separate them, but after a breathtaking sea race to the Pribilof Islands against Portugee (Anthony Quinn) they meet again ; now , both are in risk from the plans of villainous Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond) and General Ivan Vorashilov (Sig Ruman) .

This exciting as well as entertaining tale packs thrills , noisy action , spectacular struggles and lots of gutsy adventure . The flick relies heavily on a prologue in a San Francisco hotel , its results to be overlong and tiring . Brawling , sprawling , almost primitive action, teeming across the screen and being based on Rex Beach novel . Impressive images when the ships sail across thunderous seas and thrilling final when protagonists and enemies square off in a breathtaking climax . Raoul Walsh demonstrates a special talent for making the densest action sequences seem uncomplicated and uncluttered and his characters , like the scenes distinguished , often have an unfettered , raw power . Nice acting by Greagory Peck as roistering sea captain Jonathan Clark, who poaches seal pelts . Sympathetic interpretation from Anthony Quinn as rude as well as illiterate skipper . and a beautiful Anne Blyth as a countess who hides her noble origin , she does an enjoyable acting though didn't have a notorious career . Good secondary cast with familiar hearted features as John McIntire , Andrea King , Hans Conried , Rhys Williams , Brian Forbes and Sig Ruman . Thrilling as well as emotive musical score by the classic composer Frank Skinner . Colorful cinematography by Russell Metty , a nice cameraman expert on superproductions such as Spartacus , Sign of the Pagan , The War Lord , Counterpoint and Omega man . The movie was splendidly photographed on natural outdoors , Islands Aleutianas and Alaska through the courtesy of the United States Department of Interior National Park Service.

The motion picture lavishly produced by Aaron Resemberg was well directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema he achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant in Western as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨The sheriff of fractured jaw¨, ¨A distant trumpet¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. Rating : Fairly straightforward movie and above average . This interesting adventure and action film makes it of the finest of Raoul Walsh genre entries.