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Return to Paradise

  • 1953
  • Approved
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
773
YOUR RATING
Return to Paradise (1953)
AdventureDramaRomance

An American drifter comes to a remote Polynesian island controlled by a Puritanical missionary and turns the social life of the island upside-down.An American drifter comes to a remote Polynesian island controlled by a Puritanical missionary and turns the social life of the island upside-down.An American drifter comes to a remote Polynesian island controlled by a Puritanical missionary and turns the social life of the island upside-down.

  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • James A. Michener
    • Charles Kaufman
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Barry Jones
    • Roberta Haynes
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    773
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • James A. Michener
      • Charles Kaufman
    • Stars
      • Gary Cooper
      • Barry Jones
      • Roberta Haynes
    • 14User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Return to Paradise (1953)
    Return to Paradise (1953)
    Return to Paradise (1953)
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    Top cast

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    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Mr. Morgan
    Barry Jones
    Barry Jones
    • Pastor Corbett
    Roberta Haynes
    Roberta Haynes
    • Maeva
    Moira Walker
    • Turia
    • (as Moira MacDonald)
    John Hudson
    John Hudson
    • Captain Harry Faber
    Mamea Matatumua
    • Tonga
    • (as Chief Mamea Matatumua)
    Hans Kruse
    • Rori at age 21
    Terry Dunleavy
    • Mac
    Howard Paulsen
    • Russ
    Donald Ashford
    • Cutler
    Herbert Ah Sue
    • Kura
    Va'a
    • Rori at age 9
    • (as Felice Va'a)
    Frances Gow
    • Mrs. Talbot
    • (scenes deleted)
    Brian McEwen
    • Hank Elliott
    • (scenes deleted)
    Web Overlander
    • Will Talbot
    • (scenes deleted)
    Henrietta Godinet
    • Povana
    • (uncredited)
    Kalapu
    • Tomare
    • (uncredited)
    La'ili
    • Kim Ling
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • James A. Michener
      • Charles Kaufman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The 50th anniversary of the shooting of the film was celebrated on Upolu Island, Samoa, on November 5, 2003. Roberta Haynes, Donald Ashford, Terry Dunleavy, Moira MacDonald and local cast members were present.
    • Quotes

      Mr. Morgan: [to Pastor Corbett] I'm not asking for the keys to the city, but I'm not taking orders from any two-bit Mussolini.

    • Connections
      Referenced in A King in New York (1957)
    • Soundtracks
      Return To Paradise
      Lyrics by Ned Washington

      Music by Dimitri Tiomkin

      Performed by Kitty White

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Enjoyable but highly uneven.
    "Return to Paradise" is a very strange Gary Cooper movie. His character is an odd one indeed--very admirable and brave on one hand and a total jerk on the other. The overall film, as a result is entertaining but far from satisfying.

    The film begins with Mr. Morgan (Cooper) arriving on a small Polynesian island. The place is sort of a theocracy run by a VERY puritanical man, the Reverend Corbett (Barry Jones). However, Corbett and his personal band of thugs are quick to enforce their laws...but seem to take delight in not informing Morgan of the laws first! After he is attacked by these bullies, Morgan stands up for himself...and earns the respect of the locals who are getting sick of Corbett's mistreatment. Ultimately, and reluctantly, Corbett's thugs are chased off and the islanders are happy...and Corbett changes and becomes less nasty and puritanical over time. What also happens is that Morgan's new woman, Maeva, becomes pregnant and eventually dies in childbirth. At this point, Morgan shows that although he seemed like a pretty cool guy through much of the film, now he is a jerk, as he leaves his new daughter with her grandmother and he leaves the island.

    Nearly two decades pass and WWII has broken out. Morgan finally returns to the island and finds he's sort of a folk hero...and Corbett is still there but has mellowed considerably. He also finds his daughter and their relationship is clearly problematic. It becomes more problematic later after some American airmen are stranded on the island...and Morgan begins acting like an overbearing and protective father...which makes no sense considering he'd abandoned this daughter for all these years.

    The bottom line is that Morgan's character isn't at all consistent and the film felt frustrating as a result. Not a terrible film but one that sometimes just didn't make a lot of sense. Plus who wants to see a film where the leading man is actually a big hypocritical weasel?!
    helpful•8
    2
    • planktonrules
    • Jan 28, 2016

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rückkehr ins Paradies
    • Filming locations
      • Upolu Island, Samoa
    • Production company
      • Aspen Productions (I)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $515,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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