In 1979, one of Fiji’s most attractive islands — Nanuya Levu (Turtled Island, owned by American businessman, Richard Evanson) — was the setting for the remake of the film Blue Lagoon. It also became the temporary home for actress Brooke Shields.

This was reported in The Fiji Times of September 22, 1979.

A Columbia Pictures’ film crew had worked on the $4 million movie for more than two weeks when The Fiji Times visited the set. Nanuya Levu is 80km north of Nadi International Airport and belongs to the islands of the Yasawa Group.

The island was transformed into a tent city with modern technology.

Teenage Star, Shield, who played one of the two leading roles said “It’s sad to say goodbye. I have been really happy here”.

Miss Shields played the role of one of two teenagers stranded on a tropical island after a ship disaster.

The boy was played by Chris Atkins. According to the storyline, the ship was supposed to be rounding Cape Horn after leaving Boston when it caught fire.

The two teenagers and an old sailor, played by Ian McKern, were the only survivors and landed on the island after drifting for several days.

The sailor died later. On the island, the couple went through frightening experiences such as seeing native cannibals performing human sacrificial offerings to their stone God. In the end, they are finally rescued.

The film was a remake of the original Blue Lagoon shot in 1948 on the same location. It was based on a novel by English writer Henry Stackpoole.

Speaking of her future, Miss Shields said: “I’ll be going back to school.”

On the island she attended classes in the ninth grade (form three) in history, science and mathematics with female companion, Fleice Schachter.

A tutor was brought especially to teach them for three hours a day.

The end of the shooting was good for them, but bad news for the local villagers who during the shooting were earning a regular weekly wage by working for Columbia.

At one stage the movie was employing up to 80 people, who were making between $50 and $60 a week. They were from neighbouring Matacawalevu Island.

The villagers also benefitted by way of building materials, a generator and other items given by the film people. The film crew’s main problem was communication.

There was no telephone. But they chose the island because it offered the ideal setting they were looking after a threemonth search.

They looked over 100 islands in the tropics, including Hawaii, before they chose Turtle Island.