The new silent movie features music used in 1958 Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo, in which Novak appeared opposite James Stewart, and she released a statement to insist her “body of work” has been “violated”.
She wrote, “I want to report a rape. My body of work has been violated by The Artist. This film took the Love Theme music from Vertigo and used the emotions it engenders as its own.”
Novak’s comments have now drawn fierce criticism from workers at rape support groups.
Lynn Blanco, head of the Rape Crisis Center in San Antonio, Texas, tells Fox411, “When rape is used in a way that overdramatises a situation that did not include an actual rape it diminishes the suffering of the thousands of men, women and children who have suffered from the crime. We are talking about a horrible and despicable crime.”
Karla Miller, Executive Director of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program in Iowa City, Iowa, adds, “Does a body of work really equate with a human body and soul brutalised and sexually violated? Ms. Novak would no doubt argue that it does. Some victims (and others) would agree. But others may not.”
Novak’s manager Sue Cameron says, “There are all kinds of rape including the rape of one’s soul. All rapes are violent acts and all victims should be supported.”
