In "The World in His Arms", the two leads are horribly miscast. Gregory Peck plays a roguish sea captain in a part more suitable for Errol Flynn and Ann Blyth does not make a convincing Russian Countess. Despite Raoul Walsh being the director, he wasn't able to reign in Anthony Quinn as Peck's rival. That being said, it did had some of the makings of a good adventure film.
Captain Jonathan Clark (Peck) and his crew incuding First Mate Deacon (John McIntyre) and Eskimo Ogeechuk (Bill Radovitch) and his pet seal land in 1850 San Francisco for some fun and games. The crew gets shanghaied by Portegee (Quinn) a rascally pirate rival to Clark. A Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Blyth) wants to hire a ship to take her and her entourage to Alaska where her uncle (Sig Ruman) is the Russian Governor General. She is trying to escape Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond) whom she is being forced to marry. And oh yes, Clark is trying to arrange the purchase of Alaska from the Russians for $10 million. Alaska was indeed purchased from Russia but not until 1867.
Clark frees his men and meets the Countess who poses as a servant. Of course they fall in love and plan to marry. Prince Semyon arrives on the scene and whisks the Countess off to Alaska. Clark left at the altar so to speak is despondent. He is outraged when he finds out who his fiancé really is and believes she deserted him.
Clark challenges Portagee to a race to Alaska in their respective schooners with the prize being title to both boats. In the best part of the movie, the two captains try to outsmart the other until Prince Semyon's gun boat arrives on the scene and sinks Portagee's boat. Clark and his crew are arrested and imprisoned. The Countess visits Clark in prison and in one of the unlikeliest moments in the film, the two kiss and make up.
To gain the freedom of Clark, Portagee and the crew, the Countess promises to marry the Prince. He agrees. While heading for home, Clark and his merry men decide to break up the marriage and in a scene right from "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938).......................................................................
Captain Jonathan Clark (Peck) and his crew incuding First Mate Deacon (John McIntyre) and Eskimo Ogeechuk (Bill Radovitch) and his pet seal land in 1850 San Francisco for some fun and games. The crew gets shanghaied by Portegee (Quinn) a rascally pirate rival to Clark. A Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Blyth) wants to hire a ship to take her and her entourage to Alaska where her uncle (Sig Ruman) is the Russian Governor General. She is trying to escape Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond) whom she is being forced to marry. And oh yes, Clark is trying to arrange the purchase of Alaska from the Russians for $10 million. Alaska was indeed purchased from Russia but not until 1867.
Clark frees his men and meets the Countess who poses as a servant. Of course they fall in love and plan to marry. Prince Semyon arrives on the scene and whisks the Countess off to Alaska. Clark left at the altar so to speak is despondent. He is outraged when he finds out who his fiancé really is and believes she deserted him.
Clark challenges Portagee to a race to Alaska in their respective schooners with the prize being title to both boats. In the best part of the movie, the two captains try to outsmart the other until Prince Semyon's gun boat arrives on the scene and sinks Portagee's boat. Clark and his crew are arrested and imprisoned. The Countess visits Clark in prison and in one of the unlikeliest moments in the film, the two kiss and make up.
To gain the freedom of Clark, Portagee and the crew, the Countess promises to marry the Prince. He agrees. While heading for home, Clark and his merry men decide to break up the marriage and in a scene right from "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938).......................................................................