Deborah Kerr her long-time friend Robert Mitchum; a mama's girl in "Separate Tables" (1958) opposite David Niven; and a governess in both "The Chalk Garden" (1964) and "The Innocents" (1961) where she plays a governess tormented by apparitions. She also portrayed an earthy Australian sheep-herder's wife in "The Sundowners" (1960) and appeared as lustful and beautiful screen enchantresses in both "Beloved Infidel" (1959) and "Bonjour Tristesse" (1958). Among her most famous roles were Anna Leonowens in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "The King and I" (1956); and opposite Cary Grant as his shipboard romantic interest Terry McKay in
Thunder in the East (1951 film) nonviolence. He also falls in love with a blind woman (Deborah Kerr). The film was based on Alan Moorehead's debut novel "The Rage of the Vulture", published in 1948. Moorehead got the idea for the novel after travelling through India in 1947. The film rights were bought by Charles Vidor who sold them on to Paramount with himself attached as director. Alan Ladd was assigned to star with Robert Fellows to produce. Filming was postponed, however so Ladd could make "Red Mountain". This meant Fellows dropped out and Everett Riskin became producer. "We have a tremendously large cast, fine settings