Return to Paradise

From the first day he was 'deposited' on the tiny South Pacific island, all Cooper was looking for a little peace and quiet. What he got was a bible thumper with a bad attitude, who meant well, but his priorities were a little screwed up. When Cooper hits the island, the "preacher" does everything in his power to let Cooper know he's not welcome. The narrator in the beginning lets us know right away that something is not right with the island natives, but they don't know if they can do anything about it.

After the girl he falls in love with is jailed, Cooper fights to break her out and eventually ends up leading the natives in a revolt. He settles down to a life on the island, but the sea calls to him whenever someone seems to get too close to him. And the man who is his worst enemy turns to him for help when the going gets tough.

As a movie watcher, this is not my "cup of tea." But my significant other recorded it the other night off one of the classic channels and I had nothing better to do, so I started watching it. Next thing I knew, it was after midnight and the movie was ending. As I said, I never really get into the older movies, but I did find this one rather enjoyable and I will be watching for more of Gary Cooper in the future.

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 !

This is not a review about the film, (which is amiable enough but we have all seen better) but a complaint. Yet look at the storyline regarding this movie written by Les Adams, completely ruins the film which we don't need to watch as he has told us the complete 'plot.' This happens far too often in my view, okay don't read the storyline, if so what is the point of putting it therea And as I finish this rant, there is a question, does this review contain spoilers

I have done many a review of Hary Cooper films and one thing has become apparent to me, he works best as either an action hero or with an excellent leading lady ( such as Barbara Stanwyck). Cooper in Samoa just does not cut it. There are very few Cooper films where he sucked: One Sunday Afternoon,, Design For Living, Good Sam, Love In The Aftermath. And Return To Parade. Even films of his that were no good, he gives a decent performance ( like Alice In Wonderland). Is it his worst film? No that is Design For Living from Lowe's by One Sunday Afternoon but this film does not cut it for me. 2 stars. Mostly for the scenery.

"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?!