Blast from the Past: Gregory Peck
Vet director Raoul Walsh made The World in His Arms, a sea-faring adventure, starring Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth and Anthony Quinn.
Grade: B- (**1/2* out of *****)
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Original film poster
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The cast also includes John McIntire, Carl Esmond, Andrea King, Eugenie Leontovich, Hans Conried, and Sig Ruman.
Made by Universal-International, it was produced by Aaron Rosenberg from a screenplay by Borden Chase and Horace McCoy, based on Rex Beach’s novel.
In 1850 San Francisco, Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Blyth) flees from an arranged marriage to Prince Semyon (Esmond). She books a passage with “Portugee” (Quinn) to Sitka, where her uncle Governor Ivan Vorashilov (Sig Ruman) can protect her.
When Portugee’s bitter rival, Captain Jonathan Clark, “the Boston-man” (Peck), frees his shanghaied crew, she sends a man to negotiate and appease him. However, Jonathan hates all Russians and turns down the offer.
In desperation, Marina goes to the party, pretending to be the Countess’s companion, and 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.
In the end, Prince Semyon forces Marina to agree to marry him in return for Jonathan’s freedom. But Jonathan and his men double back, rescue Marina, and sail away.
Though the thrilling sea race is the centerpiece, budgetary constraints dictated no shipboard locations; the film was shot on the Universal Studios lot.
Walsh gives the unlikely adventure a brisk pacing, which makes it entertaining, compensating for Quinn’s overacting as the rugged macho type, and Peck’s underacting.
Production values were polished, with music score by Frank Skinner and ace cinematography by Russell Metty.
In 1952, the film was more popular at the British (number 8th) than the U.S. box office.
Cast
Gregory Peck as Captain Jonathan Clark
Ann Blyth as Countess Marina Selanova
Anthony Quinn as “Portugee”
John McIntire as Deacon Greathouse, Jonathan’s second in command
Carl Esmond as Prince Semyon
Sig Ruman as General Ivan Vorashilov
Andrea King as Mamie
Eugenie Leontovich as Anna Selanova
Bill Radovich as Ogeechuk, Jonathan’s Eskimo crewman
Rhys Williams as Eben Cleggett
Bryan Forbes as William Cleggett
Hans Conried as Eustace, hotel clerk
Credits
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Written by Borden Chase, Horace McCoy (additional dialog), based on The World in His Arms by Rex Beach
Produced by Aaron Rosenberg
Cinematography Russell Metty
Edited by Frank Gross
Music by Frank Skinner
Distributed by Universal-International
Release date: October 9, 1952
Running time: 104 minutes
Box office $3,000,000
