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Vera Miles
The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away
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Captivating, talented, and beautiful, Vera Miles was destined for fame. Within a few years of making her way to Hollywood in 1949, she starred in such films as The Rose Bowl Story (1952), Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (1955), and Wichita (1955). Her frequent television performances so enthralled Alfred Hitchcock that he chose her to be Grace Kelly's successor for roles in The Wrong Man (1956) and the iconic film Psycho (1960). She also starred in John Ford's The Searchers (1956) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). Miles's illustrious film and television career spanned nearly fifty years in Hollywood, and yet she is still considered one of the most unsung film actresses of her era.
Vera Miles: The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away is the first full-length biography of the talented performer's life and extensive body of work. Integrating historical interviews and archival materials, author Christopher McKittrick reveals the struggles Miles faced as a working mother in the 1950s and 1960s and why she was compelled to step away from the lead role in Vertigo—a choice that irrevocably sundered her relationship with Hitchcock. Yet Miles would go on to appear in nearly two hundred television shows, including The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, Ironside, and The Virginian, as well as numerous Disney films. She would work with some of the most talented actors in Hollywood—John Wayne, Bob Hope, and James Stewart among them—and would receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. By highlighting Miles as the lead in her own story, McKittrick amplifies the voice of this remarkable and prolific actress who was far more than just a footnote in Hitchcock's film legacy.
About the Author:
Christopher McKittrick is the author of Gimme All Your Lovin': The Blues, Boogie, and Beard of ZZ Top's Billy F. Gibbons, Somewhere You Feel Free: Tom Petty and Los Angeles, and Can't Give It Away on Seventh Avenue: The Rolling Stones and New York City. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA TODAY, and more. McKittrick is also a regular contributor on podcasts and radio programs concerning film, music, and pop culture.
Press Reviews:
Vera Miles is one of Hitchcock's most underrated actresses, and Christopher McKittrick has written the definitive book about her prolific career in Vera Miles: The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away. This biography shows Miles is more than the singular role that she is most associated with and shares insight about the strong actress behind it. -Padraic Maroney, author of It All Began with a Scream
An immensely readable, exhaustively researched biography. McKittrick delivers an insightful and nuanced account of Miles's relationship with Alfred Hitchcock and shows how popular misconceptions have obscured her remarkable career. A fascinating portrait of an actress who quietly excelled at her craft while staying true to her values. -Jason Isralowitz, author of Nothing to Fear: Alfred Hitchcock and the Wrong Men
As the first biography of Vera Miles, this is an important contribution to Hollywood history and a fascinating examination of an actress who is often overlooked despite her amazing career. -Caroline Young, author of Single & Psycho: How Pop Culture Created the Unstable Single Woman
In this brisk, deeply researched volume, McKittrick corrects the misperception of Vera Miles as a movie star defined by missed opportunities. Instead, readers will meet a strong, self-taught individual who balanced ambitions of acting and parenthood, and achieved those goals on her own terms. -Steven C. Smith, author of A Heart at Fire's Center: The Life and Music of Bernard Herrmann
As a Hitchcock scholar, I've long been fascinated by the figure of Vera Miles due to her roles in two of his films (The Wrong Man and Psycho), and I've been a fan of her other movie work in the 1950s. Vera Miles: The Hitchcock Blonde Who Got Away deserves a proud place on the film studies bookshelf. It clears the smoke that has too long obfuscated the relationship of Hitchcock and Miles, and it allows fans of classic television to appreciate Miles's many noteworthy contributions. Bravo, Mr. McKittrick! -Mark W. Padilla, author of Classical Vertigo: Mythic Shapes and Contemporary Influences in Hitchcock's Film
Christopher McKittrick offers a deeply insightful exploration of Vera Miles's career, particularly her years working with Alfred Hitchcock. McKittrick expertly unpacks the complexities of Miles's professional and personal life, dispelling myths and providing fresh perspectives on her relationship with the legendary director. His balanced and thoughtful analysis, supported by archival research and interviews, presents Miles not as a mere footnote in Hitchcock's career but as a talented and independent actress who carved her own path. With its engaging narrative and nuanced critique, this biography is an essential read for cinephiles and anyone fascinated by the golden age of Hollywood. -Tony Lee Moral, author of Alfred Hitchcock Storyboards
Vera Miles is best known for three movies she made with celebrated directors John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock: The Searchers, Psycho, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. She also appeared in nearly 200 television shows during a busy 50-year career. Author and journalist McKittrick recounts her life and work in detail, from her "fairly typical" youth in Kansas in the 1940s to her retirement in 1992.... A respectful, well-informed biography. -Kirkus Reviews
See the publisher website: University Press of Kentucky
See the complete filmography of Vera Miles on the website: IMDB ...
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