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Return to Paradise

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
665
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
665
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • James A. Michener(adapted from the story by)
    • Charles Kaufman
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Barry Jones
    • Roberta Haynes
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mark Robson
  • Writers
    • James A. Michener(adapted from the story by)
    • Charles Kaufman
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Barry Jones
    • Roberta Haynes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 12User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro

    • Photos4

    Return to Paradise (1953)
    Return to Paradise (1953)
    Return to Paradise (1953)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Mr. Morganas Mr. Morgan
    Barry Jones
    Barry Jones
    • Pastor Corbettas Pastor Corbett
    Roberta Haynes
    Roberta Haynes
    • Maevaas Maeva
    Moira Walker
    • Turiaas Turia
    John Hudson
    John Hudson
    • Captain Harry Faberas Captain Harry Faber
    Mamea Matatumua
    • Tongaas Tonga
    • (as Chief Mamea Matatumua)
    Hans Kruse
    • Rori at age 21as Rori at age 21
    Terry Dunleavy
    • Macas Mac
    Howard Paulsen
    • Russas Russ
    Donald Ashford
    • Cutleras Cutler
    Herbert Ah Sue
    • Kuraas Kura
    Va'a
    • Rori at age 9as Rori at age 9
    • (as Felice Va'a)
    Frances Gow
    • Mrs. Talbotas Mrs. Talbot
    • (scenes deleted)
    Brian McEwen
    • Hank Elliottas Hank Elliott
    • (scenes deleted)
    Web Overlander
    • Will Talbotas Will Talbot
    • (scenes deleted)
    Henrietta Godinet
    • Povanaas Povana
    • (uncredited)
    Kalapu
    • Tomareas Tomare
    • (uncredited)
    La'ili
    • Kim Lingas Kim Ling
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Robson
    • Writers
      • James A. Michener(adapted from the story by)
      • Charles Kaufman
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on the short story "Mr. Morgan" from "Return To Paradise" (James Michener's sequel to "Tales of the South Pacific"). Morgan (Gary Cooper), a drifter and soldier-of-fortune washes up on a Pacific island that is a small dictatorial state under the puritanic rule of Pastor Corbett (Barry Jones), a missionary. They conflict but Morgan stays on and carves out a cozy life. He has a child out of wedlock with island native Maeva (Roberta Haynes), but departs the island after her death, leaving the young daughter behind. He returns years later in search of his daughter. It is circa the early years of WW II, and he finds that his daughter has fallen in love with an American pilot who has crash-landed on the island. It appears that the pilot will do for the girl what Morgan did for her mother, and then depart. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>
    missionarysouth-pacificworld war two1920sbased on short story67 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The great South Pacific adventure !
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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 reviews12

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A cult classic in Samoa !
    Let's get one thing straight, the actors in this movie are portraying Pacific Islanders NOT aboriginals.

    I like this movie if only for the fact that it is probably the only Hollywood movie that was filmed in Western Samoa . It still gets played regularly there on one of the countries two t.v stations and it even has a beach proudly named after it where it was filmed on the south side of Upolu, the main island of Samoa.

    Maybe not everyones cup of tea here but the story has had similar parallels in real life many times over.

    Enjoyable !
    helpful•29
    6
    • jonseyfamily
    • Dec 30, 2005

    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

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

    Technical specs

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

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