Peck returned to swashbucklers in "The World in His Arms" (1952), directed by Raoul Walsh, who had also directed "Captain Horatio Hornblower". Peck portrays a seal-hunting ship captain in 1850 San Francisco who romances a Russian countess played by Ann Blyth and ends up engaging a rival sealer played by Anthony Quinn in a sailing race to Alaska. The film was given positive reviews by both contemporary and modern critics. "All Movie" commented that Peck is "a superb actor, who brings enormous skill to the part, but who simply lacks the overt derring-do and danger that is part of the role." The film was moderately successful, moreso in the UK than in North America.