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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 17 March 2018
60 years later, Kim Novak reflects on 'Vertigo'

By JAKE COYLE Novak's last film was 1991's
NEW YORK (AP) — Last fall, "Liebestrum." After present-
on her ranch in southern ing at the 2014 Oscars many
Oregon, Kim Novak found online, including Donald
herself doing what she calls Trump, insulted her appear-
"my own Me Too painting." ance. She responded that
Novak, who turned 85 on she would no longer hold
Tuesday, had recently herself back from speaking
broken her left wrist — her out against bullies.
painting hand — but was Hitchcock wanted Vera
compelled enough to give Miles for "Vertigo" but Miles
it a try with her right. Seeing became pregnant shortly
woman after woman come before production. Though
forward with their stories of Cohn thought little of the
harassment stoked Novak's script, he agreed to lend
own recollections. She ti- Novak out to Paramount
tled the result — a swirling, for the film. When she ar-
vibrantly colored abstrac- rived, Hitchcock wasn't im-
tion of a menacing face mediately impressed. "Miss
looming above a woman Novak arrived on set with
— "A Time of Reckoning." Truffaut, in his famed inter- wood's own manipulations they liked, and yet they all sorts of preconceived
"In that period, the same views with Hitchcock (who of her. wanted to change you." notions that I couldn't possi-
things went on. I never told was critical of Novak in the "I identify so very com- That struggle makes Novak bly go along with," the film-
these stories but my paint- role) tried to convince the pletely with the role be- an important forerunner for maker told Truffaut.
ing has it all," said Novak, director he had it wrong: "I cause it was exactly what today's actresses advocat- Novak could take some sol-
speaking by phone from can assure you that those Harry Cohn and what Hol- ing for gender equality in ace in not provoking Hitch-
her 240-acre ranch, where who admire 'Vertigo' like lywood was trying to do to post-Harvey Weinstein Hol- cock's infatuation. In her
she lives with her husband Kim Novak in it." me, which was to make me lywood. Signed to be Co- 2016 memoir, Tippi Hedren
Robert Malloy, a retired Novak's performance in over into something I was lumbia's successor to Rita ("The Birds," ''Marnie") said
veterinarian. "It was very "Vertigo" is exceptional not not," says Novak, referring Hayworth and groomed as that the director sexually
cathartic, I'm sure just like only because it's two-fold to the iron-fisted Colum- a blonde bombshell to rival assaulted her and threat-
the gals of today found it — she plays both the mys- bia Pictures founder who Marilyn Monroe, Novak of- ened to ruin her career
cathartic to tell their story." terious, suicidal Madeleine contracted her. "In the be- ten recoiled from the way when she resisted. "I never
Novak recently granted and Judy, whose similar ginning, they hire you be- she was packaged. She re- experienced anything like
her first interview in several appearance to Madeleine cause of the way you look, fused to change her Czech that. He never got that way
years to mark the 60th an- mystifies the Scottie (Stew- obviously, and yet they try last name and, ahead of with me," said Novak. "But
niversary of Alfred Hitch- art), the obsessed detec- to change your lips, your "Vertigo," insisted on a high- there were other people."
cock's 1958 masterwork, tive who had trailed Mad- mouth, your hair, every as- er salary. She had a three- Novak didn't discuss spe-
"Vertigo." On Sunday, as eleine before her apparent pect of the way you look year run as the top female cific names or experiences
part of the TCM Big Screen death — but because it's and the way you talk and star but left the movie busi- — "In that period, the same
Classics series, "Vertigo" so representative of how the way you dress. So it was ness in 1965, returning only things went on," she said —
will be back in theaters male fantasies are project- constantly fighting to keep occasionally. "What good but spoke supportively of
(see FathomEvents.com ed onto women. In Scottie's some aspect of yourself, is it just to be pretty?" she the studio boss who had
for the 650 locations), with elaborate efforts to recre- trying to keep some of you. asked in 1955's "Picnic." so much influence over
an encore on Wednes- ate Judy as Madeleine, You feel: There must have ''Maybe I get tired of only her career. "I never had a
day, March 21. The initial Novak recognized Holly- been something in you that being looked at." problem with Harry Cohn,"
reviews for "Vertigo" were she said. "He needed to be
tepid. The box office was in control so much. He nev-
disappointing. But "Vertigo" er wanted anyone to have
— entrancing, dreamlike, anything on him." (Cohn
deranged — has steadily is alleged to have insisted
grown in reputation over on sex from several female
the years to become one stars, including Hayworth,
of the most widely ac- who detailed her refusals in
knowledged masterpieces a 1989 memoir.)
in film. In 2012, it even dis- What's so remarkable
placed "Citizen Kane," after about Novak's perfor-
a 50-year reign, as the top mance in "Vertigo" is how
film on the Sight & Sound she expresses an apprehen-
critics' poll. "Vertigo," a sion that she's been sucked
movie overwhelmed by the into a disturbed male world
sensation and fear of fall- that desires some version of
ing, keeps climbing higher. her that she isn't. Novak is
And with the film's rise, No- uneasy in the role, a feeling
vak's performance, along- she credits Hitchcock with
side Jimmy Stewart, has purposefully inducing. The
similarly surged in stature. two initially disagreed on
Film critic David Thomson Madeleine's indelible outfit:
has called it "one of the This image released by Universal Studios shows Jimmy Stewart, left, and Kim Novak in a scene a gray suit and black shoes.
major female performanc- from "Vertigo." "I was very uncomfortable
es in the cinema." Francois Associated Press and I told him so.q