This film poster was on display at Herberton Village in Queensland.  Jon Hall and Maria Montez added to colourful adventure films throughout the Forties. Pure escapism but

after all  that’s what the film world is all about – or it certainly was in those days.

Above: Maria Montez.  Above – A publicity still from the film.SUDAN (1945) was the sixth and final film in a series of Technicolor costume adventures made by Universal Pictures from 1942-45 which starred the duo of Jon Hall and Maria Montez. The formula for these films included a lot of action, some comedy, a smattering of romance, and an exotic setting created on the Universal backlot. The earlier films were ARABIAN NIGHTS (1942), WHITE SAVAGE (1943), ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES (1944), COBRA WOMAN (1944), and GYPSY WILDCAT (1944).

Australia’s Hidden Secret – Historic Village Herberton

Well this is not, I suppose,  directly a film item – although we can just imagine having a Walls Ice Cream at the Cinema between the First Film and the Main Feature – as we all remember from those days.

This is from the Picture Post of Feb 1954.  I just love the colour.

We seem to be doing a season on Diane Cilento on this Blog – since my visit to her wonderful Theatre – The Karnak Playhouse Nr Mossman in Queensland, Australia a week or two ago.

Here she is on the front of The Picture Post of  27 February 1954.

Still her story – and rise to fame – like other young actors of the time was interesting and creates a fascinating story.

In the Picture Post article it states :-

The girl who made the critics rummage among their stocks of superlatives ( and who won a five year contract with Sir Alexander Korda.) for playing a Hollywood Starlet in The Big Knife, does not wear her personality on her sleeve. The big blue eyes and long blonde hair are deceptive. So are a purring drowsiness of manner, and repeated assurances that her talent is not extraordinary. Her own explanation of the film contract is “they haven’t got any blondes with long hair”.  We don’t believe it. Nor do we believe that Diane, the daughter of the Australian Physician Sir Raphael Cilento, and sister of three other doctors, chose the stage ” to relieve the monotony in my family”

After a childhood in Australia, Diane went to America to study ballet. She then claims she was too lazy for ballet so turned to acting because drama was being taught in the same building on another floor. Her talent led her in a short time to tour various regional Theatres in America, before arriving in England and quickly being cast in a number of films.  She also played Juliet at the Manchester Library Theatre.

Diane Cilento in England

We all know this one – a memorable film made in England at Denham.  Here Richard Todd as Robin has a friendly altercation with Friar Tuck – James Hayter.   Beautiful studio set designed by Carmen Dillon – who was at her very best on this film.

A great film from Walt Disney – if you have not seen it please do.   The Technicolor on this one is about as good as it gets – in fact everything about this film is first class.

Walt Disney himself was over in England and around during the making of this film at Denham Film Studios.

This information comes from an old newspaper article – from in fact The Thanet Times in Kent, and I thought it worth publishing bacause it gives some detail of Diane Cilento’s early career.

She was born in Queensland Australia in October 1933 daughter of Sir Raphael Cilento an expert on tropical diseases knighted for his services to medicine, and his wife Lady Cilento, a brilliant gynaecologist who practices in Queensland.

Diane was educated at a boarding school in Toowoomba before flying to New York at the age of 15 where her surgeon father had been assigned to U.N.O.  Her formal education was competed at Public School 83 in that city.At that time Diane developed an interest in ballet and accordingly she regularly attended classes in Carnegie Hall. Her next step took her to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, from where she obtained her first true stage job – with Virginia’s Barter Theatre, playing small parts and performing odd tasks which were required of her, including assistant electrician

By now she had reached the age of 16 and, still with the Barter Theatre, she toured most of the U.S.A.s South and Mid West before returning to New York. Then in 1950 she packed her bags and came to London where she immediately enrolled with the Royal Academy forf Dramatic Art. Diane soon obtained professional experience – with London’s small Mercury Theatre at Notting Hill Gate. This led to repertory and to Manchester’s Library Theatre.

In ‘Romeo and Juliet’  Diane won rave notices. Theatre and film scouts appreciated her talents, and walk-on parts followed in a number of British films: ‘Wings of Eagles’, ‘All Halloween’ ‘ Meet Mr.Lucifer’ and ‘Top Secret’. Diane returned to London from the provinces and her serious carerr as a stage actress began in earnest.

Her appearances in the ‘live’ theatre included ‘Arms and the Man’   at the Arts Theatre ‘One Fair Daughter’ at the ‘Q’ and Clifford Odet’s play about Hollywood  ‘The Big Knife’.

Below – EXTRACTS FROM AN INTERVIEW WITH DIANE CILENTO :-

Bomba the jungle boy was played by Johnny Sheffield in a number of films over a period of 7 to 8 years although the only one I saw as a youngster at the cinema was Bomba and The Hidden City. One thing about the film channels on satellite Television is that they have uncovered and shown films of that era that otherwise would not have seen the light of day – and  Bomba  and The Golden Idol was a classic case.

It is action packed with a lot of swimming which you would expect, a good villain and a lovely leading lady not to mention the animals and the ‘jungle’ settings which were as we know parks in California – mainly Los Angeles area.

The villain in this film was played by Paul Guilfoyle who had appeared – also as the baddie no doubt – in the other film I mentioned earlier Bomba and The Hidden City – and then after these two Bomba films, he must have taken a liking to the jungle atmosphere because he was in the Jungle Jim TV series.

Ford Beebe wrote, produced and directed this one – and to be fair did a good job.  He in fact did all the Bomba films and really ended his career with them virtually. He was a vastly experienced film man who knew all about most aspects of filming and as Johnny Sheffield remembered, he could shoot the film and almost edit it in his head as he went along knowing exactly what he wanted to be on the screen. That must have been a very efficient way of film making – and from what I have seen an effective way too.

Having just returned from a wonderful holiday to see my family in Queensland, Australia, I felt it an opportunity to include in the first article of 2016 this mention of this film actress who had an impact on British Cinema of the 50s and 60s and then went back to the Theatre in her native land – and even built her own theatre in an idyllic Queensland location close to Mossman. I had been aware of this place for some time, and got the opportunity to  visit it a week or so ago. Sadly since her death the Karnak Playhouse has not been active. I hope it can be revived :- Diane Cilento is well known by film goers of the fifties era from films such as The Admirable Crichton with Kenneth More and the well remembered The Wicker Man with Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee.

Above – A scene from The Admirable Crichton with Kenneth More in 1957

Australian-born actor Diane Cilento, who died of cancer aged 78 in 2011 , is best remembered as the wife of Sean Connery from 1962 to 1973, during the height of his fame as James Bond. However the attractive bonde would be more fittingly recalled for her roles in a dozen or so British films in the 1950s and 60s. Her best-known part was in the cultish The Wicker Man (1973), her last British picture before returning to her homeland. Born in Brisbane, she was the daughter of Sir Raphael and Lady Phyllis Cilento, both physicians. Much to their initial disappointment, Diane decided against following them into the medical profession. After winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, at the age of 17, she started to get film, theatre and television parts. Her first leading part was in J Arthur Rank drama Passage Home (1955), as the only woman on a cargo ship from South America to London. Her sultry presence naturally gets the crew all steamed up, especially the captain Peter Finch and first mate Anthony Steele. She again causes sexual tension in The Woman for Joe (also 1955), this time between a fairground owner (George Baker) and a dwarf working as one of his attractions. In the same year, Cilento married an Italian aristocrat, Andrea Volpe, with whom she had a daughter, Giovanna. Another one was  The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp (1956), in which she played the title role – she is sent on a goodwill mission to Earth, landing in the Angel, Islington. Then came the classier Lewis Gilbert adaptation of the JM Barrie play The Admirable Crichton (1957), in which she plays the maidservant Eliza Tweeny, in love with the perfect butler (Kenneth More), who takes over his master’s role when his employer’s family are shipwrecked and marooned on a desert island.

After her divorce from Connery, she returned to Australia and retired from cinema, but not acting. She  returned to her first love – the theatre. In the 1980s, she settled in Mossman, Queensland, where she built her own outdoor amphitheatre called the Karnak Playhouse in the rainforest.

Above :Diane Cilento at The Karnak Playhouse Nr. Mossman, Queensland, Australia.

She made one last film in Australia, the rather feeble The Boy Who Had Everything (1985), playing the mother of her real-life son, Jason Connery.

Below is a tribute from the Australian Queensland Premier Anna Bligh :-

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh paid tribute in October 2011 –  to the famed actress and arts lover who had died

Ms Bligh said Miss Cilento had made a valuable contribution to the arts scene across the state. “While she was originally known as a glamorous international film star, her work in later years in the far north showed her commitment to the arts,” Ms Bligh said. “I know that Ms Cilento will be sorely missed by many in the industry. “I offer my sincere condolences to her family, friends and all those who enjoyed her important contribution to the arts here in Queensland.” Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Industries executive dean Rod Wissler said Ms Cilento had been an inspiration to up-and-coming actors. Last year she provided invaluable training and inspiration to students as the university’s artist in residence, Professor Wissler said. “Diane loved her life as an artist,” he said in a statement on Friday. “She brought more than just knowledge to students. “She brought passion and enthusiasm and guided them to follow their dreams, just as she had.”

This is a press article publishes at the time of her death :-

The former wife of Sean Connery has died at the age of 78.

Diane Cilento, pictured here with Connery in 1962, was married to the James Bond star for 11 years.

She passed away in her native Australia on Thursday following a long illness.

Sorely missed: Diane Cilento, seen here with her ex-husband Sean Connery in 1962, has died at the age of 78

Relaxed: Diane, pictured outside her son Jason Connery’s home, in 2006

The Oscar-nominated actress starred with Charlton Heston in the 1965 classic The Agony And The Ecstasy and with Paul Newman in the 1967 western Hombre.

She married Connery in 1962 after they met while performing in the BBC production of Eugene O’Neill’s play Anna Christie. Their son, Jason, was born in 1963.

Following their split, she said: ‘The whole damn Bond thing took over our lives.’

Ms Cilento’s son, Jason, is also an actor.

In 1956, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Helen of Troy in the play Tiger at the Gates and she received an Academy Award nomination in 1963 for best supporting actress for her work in the movie Tom Jones.

Bond girl: Diane dances with Connery at the Thunderball premiere party at the Odeon Leicester Square in London in 1965

She married playwright Anthony Anthony Shaffer, in 1985 and they eventually settled in tropical northern Queensland, where she built a popular outdoor theatre in the rain forest.

Queensland University of Technology’s Creative Industries executive dean Rod Wissler she had been an inspiration to up-and-coming actors.

‘She brought passion and enthusiasm and guided them to follow their dreams, just as she had.’

Queensland bliss: Diane and her third husband, playwright Anthony Shaffer, who died in 2001, at their Australian home

A mother’s love: Diane and her actor son Jason in 1992

I can’t remember if I ever saw this film – if not it was probably the trailer that I saw – and they seemed to be extremely good at selling the next week’s film and I reckon it was the trailer I saw and not the film.  Bobby Darin who was Sandra Dee’s husband at the time starred in this one.

This is a fan’s comment as below – and very good it is :-

This delightful, romantic, funny romp is now available on DVD (as are “Come September” and “That Funny Feeling”), so people can indulge in this fun fest and the chemistry between Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin (then married in real life).

The plot concerns a wealthy young socialite, Chantal Stacy (the lovely and priceless Dee) who as trouble finding Mr. Right, until she meets photographer Eugene Wright (the cute and hilarious Darin). After she marries him, she tries to use her mother’s advice by treating him like a pet, thinking that will make him a more affectionate and attentive husband. It works for a while, until Chantal spills her “secret” to her school friend (a young Stefanie Powers), who, just slightly tipsy, lets Eugene in on it, and leaving Chantal to find a different way to get his attention. Again, she turns to her mother for advice for some jealousy tactics. Micheline Presle is a gem as Chantal’s mother, while John Lund is perfect as Chantal’s protective father. And Cesar Romero is impeccable as Eugene’s “dirty old man” artist father taking part in one of the schemes. And the cute dogs and the new little “addition” to the family . . . . .

Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin were an adorable couple, and this movie confirms it. Don’t listen to the critics’ opinions about this blast from the past – it’s a jewel. It’s great that so many of these older movies are being released on DVD, as they so justly deserve to be. Now a whole new generation can enjoy them!

This is a first rate remake of  THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME .   The 1932 movie with Joel McCrae, Leslie Banks (as the mad Count Zaharoff )Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong. It captures the best aspects of the short story, but not all the  details.  The same sets were re-used by the same production group (along with Fay Wray, Armstrong, and Bruce Cabot) for KING KONG shortly afterwards.

The hero  is the sole survivor of a shipwreck, and finds himself on an island owned by the villain played by Leslie Banks.  He is a master hunter, is insane, and has found there is only one game worth hunting – “the most dangerous game” or man, the only animal that one knows can think. He gives his “guests” (he has caused the shipwrecks) a good dinner or two, and then they proceed to run for their lives or until he kills them. But Rainsford  is a trained hunter too. So for a change, Zaharoff really has a worthy opponent. The ending of the tale I will not give away.

But this 1956 film is an interesting version of the original. The scene shifts to an isolated jungle area of Mexico. Richard Widmark and Jane Greer are in a plane crash, and are rescued by Trevor Howard and Peter Van Eyck, both of whom are far from welcoming. Widmark is not sure, but he keeps thinking he knows Howard, although he’s never seen him. Then he realizes it’s Howard’s voice – he heard it in World War II, as a Nazi propaganda figure (a British traitor). In short, Howard is a version of William Joyce, “Lord Haw Haw” (see SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE VOICE OF TERROR). Van Eyck is Howard’s brother-in-law.

Howard and Van Eyck have been less than willing to help Widmark and Greer get back to civilization before, because they did not want to have them report them to the authorities – they are wanted for war crimes (at least Van Eyck is). Widmark, when he makes the mistake of discovering who his hosts are, suggests that if they help him and Greer get back, he can take a message to Howard’s loved ones about their safety. Unfortunately, Howard explains, his wife and children were killed in the war by bombing. As it is apparent that Van Eyck wants to see the strangers dead, Widmark and Greer take off to try to get to safety. And then the story follows the lines of THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME.

But ironically there is a final twist to the tale. Howard has been connected to Van Eyck only by the marriage – personally he has no liking for the man. As it turns out, he would not mind if he could get out of the jungle – away from this remnant of a bloody, horrific past and so the film actually goes onto a somewhat different conclusion. We had better  leave that to the viewer though.

Whenever I see Strictly Come Dancing – which I do each Saturday evening – and see Gleb Savchenko, I  am  struck with how much like Errol Flynn he looks.

Just take a look at these pictures below, and see if you agree

Above – Gleb Savchenko

Above – Errol Flynn