Vera Miles (Born August 23, 1929)

It was her 88th Birthday last month.

This picture is taken from The Searchers which gave Vera Miles a really good part among some great film actors of the era – John Wayne and Ward Bond to name but two.

Vera Miles also appeared in a few of the finest films ever made: The Searchers, Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) and Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962).

A few facts we have come across :-

She was born on a farm near Boise City, Oklahoma, one of four children of Tom Ralston, a preacher-electrician, and his wife.

Then she moved with her family north to Kansas

Her father went off to Alaska, leaving his family behind, She  attended school in Pratt and Wichita, Kansas, and later worked at a pasteboard factory.She was crowned “Miss Kansas”, and then was placed third at the “Miss America” pageant in Atlantic City.

At the “Miss America” pageant, she was signed by RKO to a $125-a-week contract and brought to Hollywood in 1948, Howard Hughes then sent her to acting school. She then met and married  Robert J. Miles, Jr., a driver for Howard Hughes. When Hughes learned about it, he was very angry.  Hughes negotiated a deal that then sent her to 20th Century-Fox,  In 1949 She was dropped by 20th Century-Fox after only six months. In 1957 Bob Miles recalled: “After that, things got tough. I lost my job. Debts started to mount up. For a while, I went back to college, hoping to become a lawyer.  Our two daughters came along, and with more mouths to feed, things got even tougher.”  On 9 April 1950 her daughter Debra Lynn was born in Los Angeles, and later her daughter Kelley Frances  born in Los Angeles on 5 November 1952 . She will later become a TV actress and composer.

Feb 1955 films Tarzan’s Hidden Jungle opposite Gordon Scott in Hollywood.  October 1955 columnist Louella Parsons writes: “What a compliment to blonde fast-zooming Vera Miles that she is the first actress ever to be put under personal contract by Alfred Hitchcock. November 1955 sees Vera get a trip to London for 23 Paces to Baker Street. “P.S. Gordon Scott who will be in London at the same time with the Tarzan and the Lost Safari company.”

I knew that somewhere I had seen a large and clearer pictures of Paddy Ryan’s impressive and very dangerous stunt dive in the 1952 film Ivanhoe. As below :-

The visions and dreams of internationally acclaimed actress and director Diane Cilento and the late playwright Anthony Shaffer were realised when the Karnak Playhouse opened in 1992.

Finding the location for the spectacular amphitheatre with its Daintree National Park backdrop was not by chance and the spiritual ambience of the setting provided a unique theatre going experience.

Diane Cilento and Ray Barrett starred in the Stage Production below – put on at  The Karnak Playhouse

Above: Diane Cilento and Ray Barrett starred in ‘Love Letters’ at  The Karnak Playhouse – as photographed by my daughter Joanna.

This would be one of many stage events put on by Diane Cilento and her friends at Karnak Theatre. We will try to find more

Again from the Preview Annual of 1950 – and maybe of interest to see,  firstly the Film Stars of the time and secondly their choice of cars

Above: Dirk Bogarde with his Sunbeam Talbot

Above: Michael Dennison with his Triumph Saloon

Above: Derek Farr with his Armstrong Siddeley

This Open Day at the Karnak Playhouse looked to be a  wonderful day. Wish I had joined everyone there  at this beautiful location built by Diane Cilento  – star of many films including The Wicker Man.

Last time we went there we could not get in but last Saturday August 26th 2017 there was a ‘Re-Awakening Day’ with an open invitation to visit Diana’s home up inland of Mossman in Queensland, Australia – just inland from Port Douglas on the lovely Pacific Ocean.

Diana Cilento’s home there is in such a beautiful location on the edge of the Daintree Forest – she had bought a small farm years ago and ran it and developed this Theatre.

My Daughter Joanna, and her family, however did attend this event – and he comments are below :-

The Karnak Playhouse Open Day at Whyanbeel Nr. Mossman in Queensland, Australia  the late film actress Diane Cilento’s home, was held on Saturday 26 august 2017.  

My daughter went along to this event – with her family – and sent me this message :-

It was an amazing place to see! Still a bit of work to go, but they all have clear passion to make Karnak a nationally recognised creative hub where people can go and express their talents in a relaxed, positive and supportive environment. Informative speech from Diane Cilento’s daughter and close friend. I think they had lots of fun there in the 70’s ad 80’s!

The rainforest captivated Diane  and she purchased this small farm there – and soon established an amphitheatre which became The Karnak Playhouse – and that was more than 25 years ago.

Karnak Playhouse fell into disrepair, having not been used, after her death in 2011, which was mainly due to a long probate period that has only recently been resolved. There are plans now to turn the location into a vibrant performing arts venue, a place to nurture young and emerging performing artists.  Renovations of the site including the 500 seat outdoor theatre will require quite substantial funds and the Foundation hopes to attract public donations.

We have posted about The Karnak Playhouse previously when I visited in Autumn 2016, but could not gain entry at that time – but I am pleased to say that my daughter Joanna and family have been there – Wish I had too but maybe I will be lucky. It certainly looks a magic place.  The above pictures are mainly from my daughter.

Again from a Preview Annual of 1950, these are three more Stars of the era with their motor cars.

Above: David Tomlinson with his Jaguar – and the caption  says that he also flies an aeroplane

Above: Jimmy Hanley with his Hillman Minx – a weekend clean and polish –

Above: Margaret Lockwood sets off for home in her Ford Pilot V8 – no doubt a thirsty vehicle

I couldn’t resist including these pictures – as below – from a Film Annual in my collection – probably a 1950 or 1951 Annual.

The top picture shows Lassie – and the Bottom one is captioned ‘Teaching his son Laddie mealtime manners’

The Colour in the Annuals of that time is really striking and I am not sure that I have been able to replicate that in the glossy way it appears in the book.

In the British Film world of 1950, the stars had a very good lifestyle – they also had some very nice cars to run around in although nothing really compared to the vehicles of today. Nevertheless the cars had a very distinctive look as can be seen from these pictures for the 1950 Film Preview Annual.

John Mills above with his wife and daughter Juliet – in a  Triumph Roadster.

Valerie Hobson above – in a Riley  in  Mountbatten Blue

Maxwell Reed  above – a Healey Special

One of the most famous – and remembered stunts in 50s film history is this 100 ft dive from the top of Torquilstone Castle in Ivanhoe 1952. Although there are a lot of stunts in this film, there is one that stands out  and that is Paddy Ryan’s fall.  This was reported to be the highest fall at that time in films.

Mind you the publicity machine would be pleased to use this in the run up to the film release in 1952

In the film Ivanhoe openly rides to Torquilstone castle to give himself up to the Normans if they will release his father and other hostages.

Stuntman Paddy Ryan’s fall from the battlements of a castle into the moat below, became the stuff of legend amongst his stuntmen peers because it was so spectacular.

Torqilstone Castle was built for the film in the grounds of the MGM Studios at Boreham Wood in Hertfordhsire – and in  fact was kept there for and used in later films of the mid Fifties.

Somewhere in my collection of Film Books / Annuals of the time, I have another – and better picture of this fall, so will try to look that up for a later article on this site – and we will also come back to Torqilsone Castle.