HotToastyRag
I guess every decade has their fair share of stupid movies. In the 1952, The World in His Arms was added to that list. Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn play opposing sea captains, and while Gregory Peck is trying to negotiate a deal to purchase the land of Alaska—this is a period piece—Ann Blythe, a Russian countess, tries to persuade him to sail her and her grandmother to Alaska from San Francisco. She's engaged to someone else, then engaged to Gregory Peck, then engaged to the first man again—it all gets rather confusing, and it's not interesting enough to really care about untangling the mess.There's a famous boat battle scene from this movie, but I can't imagine anyone in modern audiences finding it exciting. The blue-screen is laughable, but maybe in 1952 audiences were fooled by "technology" used in the scene. I was almost put to sleep by this movie, and actually groaned at the corniness of the last line of dialogue. Save your time and watch anything else.
ma-cortes
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.
intelearts
Sometimes you just want to watch real adventure and romance and escape. TWWIHA is that and more, shot in Technicolor and full of character and characters this is escapist melodrama at its best.Gregory Peck plays the Boston Man, a sailor and a sealer, who lands in port and finds love unexpectedly with a Russian countess. Set against the politics of the purchase of Alaska the film spends the first hour in port and then follows 20 minutes of the best sailing sequences caught on film: two tall masters sailing fullspeed and captured to great effect on film, with gaff sails, bumkins, and bowsprits furling this is one of my favorite sailing scenes from any film.All in all, this is a wonderful romantic adventure film and a terrific way to spend a rainy afternoon.
KyleFurr2
This was only one of two films that Gregory Peck and Raoul Walsh made together, the other being Captain Horatio Hornblower the year before. Gregory Peck plays a sea captain in San Franisco who is basically the top man in town and Anthony Quinn is a sort of friend and rival. In the first scene, Peck goes to rescue his men after being stolen by Quinn. The real villain turns out to be some Russians, whom Peck can't stand. Peck meets Ann Blyth, who is also a Russian, but Peck doesn't know that at first and agrees to marry her. She wants to get to Alaska for some reason and Peck wants to buy Alaska for ten million. Gregory Peck is sort of miscast in this part and you don't buy it when Peck knocks out Quinn with one punch. A pretty good film if you don't expect much.
