The wig did not flatter her. But it took me years to realize that the reason for that wig was because her character was a send-up of Arlene Dahl, a redhead who by then had her own cosmetics line and had largely given up acting for the cosmetics world. So the wig was basically a way of trying to make the audience familiar with Dahl go "Oh right, this is a send-up of her."
With her own hair, Vera still looked very attractive and and sexy into the mid-70s. She seemed to stop fighting the aging process once the decade hit mid-point.

Watching it right now. I must say, Miles must have had a rough 13 years between Psycho and this. And I agree with previous posters in that the awful wig doesn't help at all.
waldolydecker

I could just never warm up to actresses wearing wigs.

Who could forget those itchy poison ivy hands? Ah, the memories.
Buy Bold Automatc powder. You'll never go back to liquitabs if you do

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I was just thinking about this episode. Vera was wonderful as a sociopathic killer. She was also great on THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR ("Death Scene"). I won't spoil it for you, but you can view the entire episode free on the IMDb board.
2000Visit Vera's Facebook webpage:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1664190502&ref=profile#
"It's only a mooovie!"
alfie

QUOTE:
Anyone seen this one? She plays a cosmetics mogul names "Viveca Scott" and she is great. I love how she does her fake smilesHer eyes remain cold and dark but everything radiates warmth and good cheer. Very effective.
I just re-watched the western movie THE SEARCHERS and came to IMDB to see who played pretty Laurie.
I was surpised to learn that it was VERA MILES. She was as pretty as Natalie Woods in the film.
I liked her and Martin Sheen in that COLUMBO epoisode, good chemistry.

My Sig Line:
Liberals kill with ABORTION.
Conservatives kill with the DEATH PENALTY.
I kill with those and WORDS.

The title of this Columbo episode was "Lovely But Lethal" if I recall correctly.

Of some interest:
Both Vera Miles and Janet Leigh of "Psycho" fame played "Guest Killers" on "Columbo."
Vera's killer (in a 1973 episode) was more arrogant and villainous playing an overly made-up but gorgeous 40-something cosmetics queen, Vera seemed to be using Lila Crane's intensity and impatience in the service of evil, rather than good. A fine, arrogant adversary for Columbo. Of further interest: Vera Miles in this show killed a young Martin Sheen, and Vincent Price guest-starred in a small part (Price never played a Columbo guest killer; too bad.)
Janet Leigh played a much more sympathetic killer (in 1975) an aging movie queen who kills her elderly husband and was the only killer Columbo allowed to get away with it. Because she would be dying of a brain tumor in a few months.

yes i have seen it many many times. she is excellent in it. but i have to say that her hair in that episode scares me to death!!!