World in His Arms [DVD] [1952] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Universal Pictures presents "THE WORLD IN HIS ARMS" (1952) (105 min/Color) -- Starring: Gregory Peck, Ann Blyth, Anthony Quinn, John McIntire, Carl Esmond & Hans Conried

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn play two seal-hunting rivals in this adventure film set in the days when Alaska was a Russian territory. Peck is adventuring seafarer Jonathan Clark, who falls in love with Russian Countess Marina Selanova (Ann Blyth) while the countess is in San Francisco fleeing an arranged marriage to the vile Prince Semyon (Carl Esmond). The Countess wants to hire a ship to take her to Sitka, AK, where her uncle, General Ivan Vorashilov (Sig Rumann), is governor.

Portugee (Quinn) can't raise money for the voyage, so the countess agrees to sail with Clark (Peck), and the two quickly fall in love. But Prince Semyon sails into San Francisco just as Clark and the Countess are about to be wed, and the prince abducts her and takes her to Alaska, threatening to kill her uncle if she doesn't marry him. Clark and Portugee then agree to race to Alaska, with the winner getting the other's ship and the seal catch. Clark's boat wins the race, but the Russians arrest both the men as seal poachers. Countess Marina agrees to marry Semyon if he will order the seal hunters released.

What is the outcome, well purchase or rent the film and your questions will be answered.

Excellent big-scale adventure story!

BIOS:
1. Raoul Walsh (Director)
Date of Birth: 11 March 1887 - New York, New York
Date of Death: 31 December 1980 - Simi Valley, California

2. Gregory Peck [aka: Eldred Gregory Peck]
Date of Birth: 5 April 1916 - La Jolla, California
Date of Death: 12 June 2003 - Los Angeles, California

3. Ann Blyth
Date of Birth: 16 August 1928 - Mount Kisco, New York
Date of Death: Unknown

4. Anthony Quinn [aka: Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca]
Date of Birth: 21 April 1915, Chihuahua, Mexico
Date of Death: 3 June 2001, Boston, Massachusetts

5. John McIntire
Date of Birth: 27 June 1907 - Spokane, Washington
Date of Death: 30 January 1991 - Pasadena, California

6. Hans Conried
Date of Birth: 15 April 1917 - Baltimore, Maryland
Date of Death: 5 January 1982 - Burbank, California

7. Carl Esmond [aka: Willy Eichberger]
Date of Birth: 14 June 1902 - Vienna, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Date of Death: 4 December 2004 - Brentwood, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 105 min on DVD ~ Universal Pictures ~ (April 5, 2011)

This is a gorgeous movie, with fantastic actors (all of the cast, leads and supporting, one of the marks of the glorious forties and fifties) and great action, all this dynamically filmed by the great Raoul Walsh.
To be watched and remembered with Captain Horatio Hornblower [DVD] [1951] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC].
The dvd transfer is very good.

A film full of adventure, romance and excitment. First saw the film donkeys years ago and it has always been my favourite. Was so pleased when I at last found out a DVD had been made. Will continue to see it many times over the coming years.