The World in His Arms

Gregory Peck is a pirate that sails his ship all over the northern pacific. He picks up, or gets picked by the Russian countess to extricate her from her fiancé, and take her to Alaska. He winds up in heap of trouble as a result, but during their voyage both fall in love with each other that leads him into even more trouble.

Very good movie about a daring ship captain, and the romance that goes with it. There's something about a high seas adventure that's both romantic and exciting. Add a romance between a rough sea captain and a noble lady, you have one excellent romantic adventure that appeals to all audiences. I've seen this movie since I was a kid, and always enjoyed it every time I saw it.

This is one of the best pirate theme movie made in the golden age of Hollywood. It's still entertaining to watch after half a century of time.

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.

Start with history, add adventure and scenery, toss in a romance, sprinkle it with humor, and top it off with action. That's the recipe for a very entertaining and outstanding movie. It describes "The World in His Arms." Others have discussed the plot of the film, so I'll skip to some of the highlights.

First, it has historical value. Few films have been made about that time and place in history, and it gives a good picture of life and politics in the early years of Alaska settlement. The locale shooting in the Pacific Northwest adds to the authenticity, as well as the spectacular scenery.

Second, the scenery and cinematography are outstanding. Even fewer movies have included Alaska seal hunting, and again the location and scenery are most impressive here. The Americans and others who go in search of seal furs in Alaska are poachers in Russian territory. But, one scene describes how Gregory Peck's ship practices conservation of the seal population, whereas the Russians tend to slaughter whole populations without such regard.

Third, the big cast of top drawer actors is perfect for this film. That includes all of them. I don't agree with a couple reviewers, including one whom I enjoy and watch for often. They think that Gregory Peck was miscast. I can see that if someone has a particular image or demeanor or character about an actor burned into his or her imagination, it may be difficult to appreciate that person in roles that don't seem to conform. But, greater enjoyment of movies is in store for those of us who don't typecast actors. And, when an actor plays a role that is rare or unusual for him, it can be an even bigger treat for the audience. Such is the case with Peck in this film, I think. Instead of Charlton Heston, John Wayne, or Kirk Douglas for this role, I think Peck gives it an air of freshness.

Fourth, the sailing scenes and action are outstanding. Although these aren't the man-o-war type of large ships in this film, they are of the fast schooner type of vessels. The cinematography of the sea race is some of the best filming of sailing that I have seen in movies.

Other aspects of the movie add immensely to its quality and enjoyment -- the romance, the humor, and the action. Production aspects are all first-rate - costumes, script, and directing. "The World in His Arms" is a great addition to any film library.

Most of the cast give top performances. Besides the three leads played by Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth and Anthony Quinn, this film had several well-known supporting actors of the day. John McIntire, Hans Conried, Rhys William, and Sig Ruman are very good in their roles. Only one significant role was lacking -- Carl Esmond seemed wooden as Prince Semyon

While the film takes place in an historical setting, the characters are fictitious. The movie is based on a book by American author Rex Beach, who wrote many novels of adventure, action and drama. "The World in His Arms" of 1946, was one of several books set in Alaska where Beach had spent five years, including a stint at prospecting for gold. Although little read today, some of his books were top sellers in the early 20th century. Beach may be among the most prolific of modern authors to have had movies based on his works - 37 in all.

Of course, the U. S. did purchase Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867, for $7.2 million. While some critics called it "Seward's Foley" (after William Seward, who was then U. S. Secretary of State), most could see the wisdom of the deal. Russians had first arrived in Alaska in 1732, and in 1799 the Russian-American Company was established to hunt for fur - mostly seal skins. But, Russia didn't colonize the territory. Instead, the largest communities sprang up around churches that were built by Russian Orthodox missionaries. The history of Russian America and the U. S. purchase and establishment of Alaska, which became a state in 1959, is quite fascinating. Very few Russians moved there, and shortly after the sale, most - but not all, left and returned to Russia.

There were some 30 Russian Orthodox churches in Alaska in the early 21st century. Most are historic sites and some are still active parishes. All are in the southern part of the state and the Aleutian Islands. While most are in remote areas or small villages, the most accessible and visited churches are in Sitka, Kenai, Kodiak, and Juneau. Those who take an inland passage cruise to Alaska usually stop at Juneau where one can see and visit St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Deacon Greathouse, "Woe unto you, Jonathan. Women! The mouths of these women are smoother than oil, but the end is bitter as wormwood."

William Cleggett, "He can't be serious about buying Alaska." Eben Cleggett, "Of course he's serious. The man is fabulous mad. He's impossible. But if he's decided to buy Alaska, he'll buy it."

Portugee, "Very strange people, these Russians. They give you money, they want it back. Between you and me, I think he's a thief."

Capt. Jonathan Clark, "Did you find Joe Sweeney down at the city treasurer's office?" Eustace, Hotel Clerk, "No. Unfortunately, no, sir. Mr. Sweeney's being hanged this evening. They checked his accounts and it seems they discovered a slight case of embezzlement." Capt. Clark, "Oh, it's too bad. He was a great man with the bottle. There are very few of us left."

This insufficient movie was made in the fifties when a flamboyant pretty boy famous for tough, staunch, dramatic parts and deep performances decides to go the matinée idol/swashbuckler route. This movie followed Peck's earlier and similar Captain Horatio Hornblower and the Fox big budget muck, David and Bathsheba. Captain Horatio was a big hit in the United States but the fate of this movie domestically was not as good. But as many big budget productions that struggle at home, they make a killing or reduce the losses overseas as this movie was number six at the UK box office and top 10 in 1952 in many other countries. Peck is actually good in the role of the gregarious pirate - way better than in Captain Horatio where I felt he was miscast - he seems to sink his teeth into the role of a lovable scalawag with a gritty mien. He walks the part, lashes the part, and punches the part. One could only wonder why he did not bring this kind of intensity to his role of the "bad seed" in Duel in the sun. The movie sorely needed it. While this kind of movies are supposed to light and flimsy, I must say that I think this movie is way too light. Fights happen for no apparent reason than to fight. Portugee brilliantly played by the great actor Anthony Quinn is loud and lascivious and is a great counterpart to Peck's ravenous appetite for calamity. The plot so to speak involves a Russian girl who does not want to leave the haven of San Francisco to return to the obviously evil and vile fiancée. So she needs to get on a boat to get her out. Enter Peck, romance and love. But alas, Mr. Vile and Evil shows up, twirling mustache in hand and kidnaps her. The rest of this movie is as follows................... You get the point. Raoul Walsh who was one of Hollywood's most successful directors at the box office with very few flops throughout his career directs the action scenes with unusual zest even for him. The score is rousing and gives the sailing sequences a palpating calumny. Blyth is terrible in this role and I don't even think she is very pretty. She does not even try to do a Russian accent but speaks with a clear mid-western undertone. And last of all, the final line in this movie is surely a contender for one of the corniest lines ever delivered on screen. You have hear it and see the shot that follows and try not to laugh out loud.

Fascinating movie! I felt pleasure in this story. Though at first I did not want to watch it. I'm the Russian and I believe Hollywood makes fables about Russia as it had turned out with this movie. There were a trite Russian tavern, cossacks, balalaikas, the plaintive Russian songs, the funny Russian aristocracy. There were some Russian names sounding strange for the Americans. The Americans do not know that the Russians have a name and patronymic. The Russian countess is not too bad, even it was possible to keep noble pallor and some aristocratic manners. The countess' servant was speaking in Russian almost without accent. Though the countess' dresses were in a British manner. But above all it was LOVE. And Alaska, sold to the USA, played not such large role. Certainly, it was impossible for the Russian, Orthodox countess got married with the Catholic American in a church. And Marina Selanova and Prince Semyon wanted to get married into strange place that was absolutely not similar to an orthodox temple. But it did not irritate me. It would be better, if this movie was made in Russia. But sometimes I believed this movie was made in Russia. I believe Gregory Peck was the best choice for this role. The American steadfast captain and the Russian charming countess were beautiful couple. With what other American could the Russian countess fall in love? Jonathan Clark looked very well and manly. He was smart, just, thoughtful and slightly imprudent. The final scene was dazzling beautiful and it had no equal even DiCaprio's Titanic. I saw this scene at picture and decided to watch this movie and I did not regret. I'm so sorry it was not released on DVD. But in Russia it is easy to buy VHS. We like it!