Sarah Miles

The Big Sleep (1978)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The Big Sleep film poster- a man pointing a gun at the camera, with a women looking at his behind. Smokey red background with Big sleep written in white

The Big Sleep film poster © Incorporated Television Company (ITC)/Winkast Film Productions

Director: Michael Winner
Writers: Raymond Chandler (novel), Michael Winner (screenplay)
Starring: Sarah Miles, John Mills, Oliver Reed, Edward Fox, James Stewart, Joan Collins
Production Company: ITC Films, Winkast Film Productions
Kent Locations Used: The Royal Harbour in Ramsgate

The Big Sleep (1978) is a film adaption of Raymond Chandler‘s 1939 novel of the same name. Set in 1970’s London, private eye Philip Marlowe (Robert Mitchum) is asked by a retired general (James Stewart) to investigate who is blackmailing his family.

The detective mystery film is directed and written by Michael Winner (Death Wish, The Sentinel) and stars an array of acting talent including Sarah Miles (Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Blow-Up), John Mills (Dunkirk (1958), The Long Memory), Oliver Reed (The Shuttered Room (1967), Gladiator), Edward Fox (The Mirror Crack’d (1980), A Bridge Too Far), James Stewart (It’s a Wonderful Life, Vertigo) and Joan Collins (Dynasty, Esther and the King).

A black classic car parked at Ramsgate Harbour with cast members walking towards it, Boats and sea can be seen behind

The Big Sleep screenshot at Ramsgate Harbour © Incorporated Television Company (ITC)/Winkast Film Productions

a car being pulled out of the water at Ramsgate Harbour- a boat is in the water behind

The Big Sleep screenshot at Ramsgate Harbour © Incorporated Television Company (ITC)/Winkast Film Productions

The production visited The Royal Harbour in Ramsgate to film the scenes where General Sternwood’s chauffeur (Martin Potter) drives his car into the sea.

Ramsgate is a historic coastal town with England’s only Royal Harbour, stunning Victorian architecture, a sandy beach, amusements, arcades as well as shops and eateries. Ramsgate has previously been used as a film location in Big Bad World (2013), True Love (2012) and Gypo (2006).

The Big Sleep (1978) was released on Monday 13th March 1978 and is now available on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

 

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Dover beach huts on the pebbles, men and women are waiting outside

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines screenshot of Dover Beach © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Director: Ken Annakin
Writer: Jack Davies, Ken Annakin
Starring: Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox, Robert Morley, Jean-Pierre Cassel
Production Company: Twentieth Century-Fox Productions
Kent Locations Used: Dover Seafront, The White Cliffs of Dover

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) is a British comedy set in 1910 about a newspaper mogul who offers a large cash prize to the first pilot who can successfully fly over the English Channel. Aviation experts from around the world attend the race and some compete not only for the prize, but the affections of Lord Rawnsley’s daughter.

Directed by Ken Annakin (The Longest Day, The Pirate Movie) who also co-write alongside Jack Davies (Doctor at Sea, North Sea Hijack) the film stars Stuart Whitman (The Comancheros, Night of the Lepus), Sarah Miles (Ryan’s Daughter, Hope and Glory), James Fox (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sherlock Holmes), Robert Morley (The African Queen, Too Many Chefs) and Jean-Pierre Cassel (Murder on the Orient Express, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie).

Dover seafront was used for the scenes where the competitors have some seaside fun before the race. The White Cliffs of Dover also feature in the film where the contestants fly cross the Channel.

Long shot of dover cliffs and sea

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines screenshot of Dover © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Dover beach and sea, people paddling in the sea and sunbathing on deck chairs

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines screenshot of Dover beach © Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Dover is a coastal town in East Kent home to The White Cliffs of Dover as well as Europe’s busiest passenger port. The area has been used for many filming projects such as Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), The Boats That Made Britain: A Time Team Special (2014) and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) was released on Wednesday 16th June 1965 and is available to purchase on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.