Hollywood Star Roberta Haynes is Guest of Honour at Return to Paradise Resort's Gala Movie Weekend
Thursday 9 April 2015, 2:52PM
By Media PA
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Alice Parminter for MediaPA
SAMOA’S RETURN to Paradise Resort is set to welcome Roberta Haynes, star of 1953 Hollywood movie Return to Paradise for a special movie screening this May.
This year marks the film’s 62nd anniversary, and to celebrate a nostalgic gala weekend is planned for the 15th to 17th of May at the renowned Return to Paradise Resort.
Born in 1929, Roberta Haynes began acting in New York before becoming a Hollywood actress. She starred in several films from 1940 to 1960 before turning her hand to writing and producing.
Return to Paradise, one of Hayes’ most well-known movies, was filmed at the height of her career in Lefaga, Samoa, on the beach where the popular four-star Return to Paradise Resort is now located. Haynes played Samoan maiden Maeva opposite Hollywood heartthrob Gary Cooper.
Samoa has often been on the cutting edge of Old Hollywood innovation. Return to Paradise was notable for its use of local native actors for several of the speaking roles – one of the first Hollywood movies to offer roles to locals instead of white Hollywood actors. The island nation was also home to the first documentary ever filmed – Moana, a black and white silent film released in 1926. Moana was re-released in 1980 with an added soundtrack, also recorded in Samoa.
Roberta Haynes will be flown out to Samoa business class by the event’s sponsor, Fiji Airways. She will be the guest of honour at the re-digitalised movie screening and will also host the premiere cocktail party. Guests will have the opportunity to mingle with her and the six surviving actors who also had speaking roles in the movie.
Haynes has also donated the original lavalava she wore in the movie. This will be auctioned off the following night at the charity gala dinner, with all proceeds going to the Marist Trust.
Tickets for the May 15th to 17th gala weekend are available now. The resort is also offering special accommodation packages. For more information contact the resort at gm@returntoparadiseresort.com or phone (+685) 35055 (Samoa).
Contact Return to Paradise Resort:
Phone: (+685) 35055 (Samoa)
Email: gm@returntoparadiseresort.com
For bookings: reservations@returntoparadiseresort.com
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