Return to Paradise (1953)

In the late 1920s, the South Pacific island of Upolu is ruled by a strict pastor, the son of the previous pastor.  Pastor Cobbett (Barry Jones) has regimented the people of the island, using a band of thugs called wardens to enforce his code.  It is for the good of the people that he punishes sin.  On a random day, Mr. Morgan (Gary Cooper) the American lands on the beach and decides to call Matareva home.  Cobbett is adamantly opposed but Morgan enforces his desire to stay.  Unlike the natives, Morgan does not bow to Cobbett's regimentation and is more than willing to stand against the wardens.  Soon, the island is in rebellion and Cobbett's power is gone.  Nonetheless, the folk still attend his church.

Among the islanders, Maeva (Roberta Hayes) pursues Morgan and he relents.  However, he is restless.  He has repeatedly explained how he trusts no one and would have left Cobbett to his despotism if the pastor hadn't interfered with him.  He's a wanderer and plots his departure.  But Maeva is pregnant.  Soon after Turia is born, he leaves the island.

Years later, he returns.  World War II is being fought.  Turia is a young woman and eager to spend time with her famous father, whom the islanders view as a George Washington-like figure.  Morgan is torn between a desire to stay with his daughter and the constant pull of wanderlust.  In a twist of karma, Morgan finds his daughter being romanced by a young American pilot who has crashed on the island.  The parallels between the pilot and Turia to Morgan and Maeva cannot be missed.  Cobbett voices that uncomfortable truth.

This is an unusual role for Cooper, who is usually - in my experience - a paragon of virtue.  Such is not the case for Morgan.  He's rough around the edges and hard on his companions.  Maeva was giving and undemanding, but Morgan couldn't accept her.  He didn't want the commitment.  Always he would hint at his plans to move on.

Cobbett has the most dramatic story arc.  He goes from a strict disciplinarian to a kindly old pastor.  Where he was easy to hate in the early part of the film, he is a beloved member of the island family in the end.  He was never a bad man, just misguided in the way he taught the faith.  Being humbled by Morgan did him a world of good.

Just okay.