This was only one of two films that Gregory Peck and Raoul Walsh made together, the other being Captain Horatio Hornblower the year before. Gregory Peck plays a sea captain in San Franisco who is basically the top man in town and Anthony Quinn is a sort of friend and rival. In the first scene, Peck goes to rescue his men after being stolen by Quinn. The real villain turns out to be some Russians, whom Peck can't stand. Peck meets Ann Blyth, who is also a Russian, but Peck doesn't know that at first and agrees to marry her. She wants to get to Alaska for some reason and Peck wants to buy Alaska for ten million. Gregory Peck is sort of miscast in this part and you don't buy it when Peck knocks out Quinn with one punch. A pretty good film if you don't expect much.

This is a glossy film in the best sense of the word. Rex Beach's novel has been brought to brilliant and only-occasionally-slick life here by director Raoul Walsh. The film is both lively and humorous, fast-paced and occasionally profound thanks to the screenplay by veterans Borden Chase and Horace McCoy. It is also an adventure, a love story and an historical snapshot of an expansive era that is colorful and different. Much of it takes place in The Pribiloff Islands, homeground to fur seals behind overhunted by Russians. Some part takes place in Seattle, and some in Russian Alaska. The locales provide a field day for cinematographer Russell Mettey, costume designer Bill Thomas, Joan St. Oegger in charge of hair styling and Bud Westmore, the makeup head. Julia Heron's sets are as always stunning. But what saves this magazine-level storyline from being ordinary I claim is the intricacy of its historical plot, and the acting by everyone concerned. Much is done to make Gregory Peck as "The Boston Man" imposing, a name to be admired and important. it is one of Peck's liveliest characterizations, and he more than lives up to his billing. He is aided by Ann Blyth's best-ever performance as the Russian noblewoman pretending to be an ordinary girl, Anthony Quinn as a rival Portuguese skipper, John McIntire, Eugenie Leontovich, Andrea King, Hans Conreid, suave villain Carl Esmond, Rhys Williams, Sig Ruman and Byran Forbes. This would be a great cast in any film; but here the accent is on liberty versus its opposite; there is a nagging sense in the film that the era of expansion may be ending and only those who dream big and honest dreams will be able to reap the benefits of that expansion. The Russians, at least Esmond, have a different idea--brutality, theft and the extermination of all who oppose them. A curious incident in the film has Peck, grieving over his lost girl--Blyth has been coerced into fleeing him to save her father's life by marrying Esmoond--and he turns on the Portugee, Quinn, who is then crowding him at sea, and disables his ship. The incident is telling; he apologizes, plans to make it up to his obnoxious friend; the incident shows that he is not like the Russian badmen he is soon to challenge and overcome. It is the beauty of the love scenes, the adventure-level interesting characters and the splendid glowing feel of the whole film that set it apart. The climactic battle leads to a lovely denouement and ending, as Peck and Blyth sail home together, and the captain at last has "the world in his arms". This is a film that occasionally takes the path of easy humor and swiftness; but it is very well-acted, and very enjoyable as an adventure, for many reasons.

I find myself in agreement with other critics,who feel that Peck was not the best choice for the role of Captain Clark.Swashbuckling with lots of action and derring-do really wasn't his thing.And yet,he does it as well as might have been expected.But rowdy,boisterous heroes will not be what we remember him for.Nonetheless,this is still quite an enjoyable film.There happens to be a mild amount of Cold War propaganda in this movie,if you know what to look for.At one point,Clark tells Marina that the Russian policy,of rapaciously hunting the seal herds in the islands,without thought for preservation of the species continuance,will lead to extermination.And,later on Deacon Greathouse makes the exact same point to William.My research,however,indicates that the Russians were no more greedy or brutal than any other hunters in that period.So,I feel that we're getting a little bit of 1950s anti-Soviet slur in here.It's just a sign of the times.FURTHER NOTE:The Americans sneak into the palace to rescue Marina dressed as Orthodox priests,including veils which disguise the lower parts of their faces.This is a total inaccuracy.I come from an Eastern Orthodox background,and the priests NEVER did this!

In old San Francisco, Marina Selanova (Ann Blyth) - a dark-haired Russian countess on the run from imminent union to the ambitious prince Semyon (Carl Esmond) - implores Captain Jonathan Clark (Gregory Peck) to take her to Alaska after been rejected by his eternal rival Portugee (Anthony Quinn).Jonathan, an American seal pirate, falls for the diminutive, fresh-faced brunette, while giving her a midnight tour of San Francisco—an impressive similar situation to Peck-Audrey Hepburn in William Wyler's "Roman Holiday."On the eve of their wedding day, her odious Russian fiancé kidnaps her, and sails for Alaska taking her on his gunboat... He promises to kill her uncle unless she married him as it was originally planned...The film's highlight is the outstanding windswept race between two boats led by Peck and Quinn from San Francisco harbor to the Fur Seal Islands off the coast of Alaska, with the winner acquiring the other's ship and crew to rescue the lovely heroine...With her slightly oriental eyes and pleasant lyric soprano voice, Ann Blyth provides feminine decoration for this epic adventure... Anthony Quinn gives a high-spirited performance as the cunning, sympathetic thief... Quinn is challenged in the film in a 'trial of strength,' an amusing drinking and wrestling bout..Raoul Walsh's direction is simple, direct and muscular... As a popular entertainer he is confident with a sense of humor... His actions, fury, spirit, skill, ambition and unrestrained dreams remain his forte...