Gregory Peck Seafaring For Universal-International

Process Screens Aloft! The World In His Arms (1952)

Somewhere this was called a B picture, which it certainly isn't, though you could argue that sameness of Universal-International star vehicles made them seem like B's. This time Gregory Peck is U-I's guest, and percentage recipient, seafaring with less conviction than on-site Jeff Chandler or even Rock Hudson might have, this sort of boy's pulp more their meat than Peck's. Raoul Walsh indulges too much dunderhead comedy and brawling for its own sake --- even a pet seal gets into the crowded act. There was much process work at a time when alert viewers were making that deception harder to get away with, and Uni backlots are weak substitute for locations increasingly deployed after the war, that shortcut further banished within a couple years when Cinemascope came to fore. Peck's double gets in more action time than the star, Greg seldom at advantage when fists fly. Based on "fabulous" tales by Rex Beach (says the trailer), World is OK reveal of Uni market strategy in upgrading product with outside names lured by profit participation. Agents, particularly out of MCA, were well along getting control of the lot by '52.