THE WORLD IN HIS ARMS

US, 1952, 104 minutes, Colour.
Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn, John Mc Intyre, Andrea King, Carl Esmond, Eugenie Leontovitch.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

The World in His Arms is a lively sea-action adventure with 19th. century settings. It is based on a novel by Rex Beach, author of The Spoilers. The film is directed by Raoul Walsh, veteran of many action films of the '30s and '40s at Warner Bros. (They Drive By Night, High Sierra) and many action adventures of the '50s. It was his only film for Universal Studios.

Walsh had worked with Gregory Peck in Captain Horatio Hornblower. Peck gives his usual solid performance. Ann Blyth is an attractive heroine. Anthony Quinn does his typical impersonation as Portugee. He was still working in supporting roles, although at this time he won his first Best Supporting Actor award for Viva Zapata.

1. Enjoyable action adventure? Popular material? The perennial appeal of seagoing 19th. century actioners?

2. Colour and location photography? San Francisco and Alaska in the 19th. century? Atmosphere and flavour? The sea sequences, the race? Battles and brawls? Rousing musical score?

3. The romantic title? The focus on Captain Clark, his work, an American, the Russians. Alaska? The romance with the Countess Marina? Themes?

4. The portrait of Captain Clark? Gregory Peck's style? His wealth, seal-poaching in Alaskan waters. the clashes with the Russians, the arrival in San Francisco, the rough crew? On the town? The encounter with the Countess Marina? Her plea for his to take her to sea? His rivalry with Portugee? Falling in love with Marina? The journey to Alaska? The kidnapping by Prince Semyon? His reaction, drinking? The boat race? The seal catch? Captured by the Russians, the escape, the explosions? Rescuing Marina? Potboiling heroics ? stylishly done?

5. Countess Marina? her fleeing with her servant, Prince Semyon and the arranged marriage, San Francisco, her desperation, the plea to Portugee, the refusal, Jonathan Clark? Masquerading as a maid? Falling in love? The kidnapping? The final rescue? A typical romantic heroine?

6. Anthony Quinn's style as Portugee, bravado. San Francisco, the seals, the rivalry with Jonathan Clark? His refusing Marina? The race? His tactics to win the race?

7. The portrait of the Russians? Prince Semyon and the arranged marriage, the pursuit of Marina? Capturing her? Capturing Captain Clark? His defeat? Marina and her maid? The Russian entourage?


8. The historical background of power struggles in the Pacific? Alaska and Russia? Russian claims? The buying of Alaska by the Americans? Seal-catching, seal-poaching? The race and adventures on the high seas?

9. Traditional themes of action, romance, competitiveness? A piece of Americana, popular style?