For this blog entry, I wanted to try something a little different (who knows it might become a regular thing around here). In this case, it is wishing a legendary Classical Hollywood era actress a very Happy Birthday. The actress in question is the now 90-year-old Kim Novak 🙂 The aforementioned actress turns 90 today on Monday, February 13, 2023. She is also an accomplished painter and while I could go on with details, instead I shall give you two interesting links that are more in-depth. The first is a wikipedia entry (click here) and the second is an insightful article by former Chicago Reader film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum (click here). If any of you are interested in viewing her paintings, click here to view them. As for myself, I shall celebrate by composing a list below of my favorite Kim Novak films (all * * * * out of * * * *) in chronological order.
- Pushover (1954) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Phffft (1954) (Dir: Mark Robson) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- 5 Against the House (1955) (Dir: Phil Karlson) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Picnic (1955) (Dir: Joshua Logan) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) (Dir: Otto Preminger) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Eddy Duchin Story (1956) (Dir: George Sidney) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Jeanne Eagels (1957) (Dir: George Sidney) Since I can’s find a trailer, click here to view one of the film’s many impressive scenes
- Pal Joey (1957) (Dir: George Sidney) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Vertigo (1958) (Dir: Alfred Hitchcock) Click here, here and here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer, 1996 Restoration trailer and 60th Anniversary 4K Restoration trailer
- Bell, Book and Candle (1958) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Strangers When We Meet (1960) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Notorious Landlady (1962) (Dir: Richard Quine) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Boys’ Night Out (1962) (Dir: Michael Gordon) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) (Dir: Billy Wilder) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
- The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968) (Dir: Robert Aldrich) Click here to view the film’s original theatrical trailer
Click here to view this insightful youtube video link to a 2020 CBS Sunday Morning profile on her
Click here to view another insightful youtube video link to late TCM (Turner Classic Movies) host Robert Osborne’s 2012 TCM Classic Film Festival interview with Kim Novak
Also, click here to view a youtube video link to a 1964 episode of the 1960’s NBC documentary series entitled Hollywood and the Stars: In Search of Kim Novak
Let me conclude this post with a question for all of my dear readers below:
What are your favorite Kim Novak films?
cinematiccoffee 
Interesting idea for a post. There isn’t much I can add to it as the only film of Novak’s I’ve seen is Vertigo and I’m afraid I wasn’t a fan of it. Good and different idea for a post nonetheless.
Just thought I’d mention that Blood For Dracula now has a 4k special edition release, also by Severin Films. It has a lot of interviews including and interview with Joe Dallesandro which is great.
Nice tribute, John. I have a soft spot for ‘Bell, Book, and Candle’.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you for the kind words Steve 🙂
Great to know that Blood for Dracula got the 4K treatment and it will be nice to view Joe Dallesandro’s interview as well 🙂
So do I Pete 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Happy belated birthday to Kim. I haven’t seen many of her films, but I always find her an arresting screen presence. I’m surprised she wasn’t nominated for her performance in Vertigo.
Yikes! I’ve only seen her in Vertigo, too. I don’t remember disliking the movie and thought she was pretty good in it, but evidently Mr. Hitchcock had wanted a different actress for it, not her, and when the movie didn’t do well, he blamed it on poor Kim. I haven’t seen it in years–I don’t know. DID she not do that well in it? Still, it wasn’t very gentlemanly of Hitchcock if he really did blame her.
I too am surprised that Kim Novak was not nominated for Vertigo because she really gave everything she got in her performance as Madeline Elister/Judy Barton 🙂
Stacy, I can assure you that Kim Novak is one of the greats 🙂 Vertigo (as you probably know) is my number one favorite film of all-time 🙂 There is so much I can say about why, but you probably read my entry on it since you commented on that post regarding my 10 favorite films of all-time 🙂 I did hear that Hitchcock wanted a different actress and while I love his films, Hitchcock could be a real a**hole sometimes. I read that Vera Miles was originally supposed to play Madeline Elister, but her pregnancy (she was expecting her third child) forced her to drop out with Hitchcock responding with something along the lines of “isn’t two kids enough?” Totally uncalled for. He was wrong to blame Kim Novak for Vertigo’s initially poor box office performance. Some films are like that. They may not be appreciated at the time, but later, people come to rediscover it as a masterpiece. Btw, Kim Novak was fantastic in Vertigo – Hitchcock could occasionally be his own worst critic. In fact, Novak’s performance in Vertigo has been celebrated 🙂 So yes, Hitchcock was not very gentlemen-ly in this situation at all.
Yeah! That’s my memory of Vertigo–much enjoyment and feeling like Kim did a really good job. I will NOT let my feelings be rewritten by Mr. Hitchcock’s negative ghost voice, lol !!
“Isn’t two kids enough,” from him, huh? Oh my god! I think your use of “a**hole” is very kind, lol. Especially considering all those weird harassment stories I’ve heard about him–not even the “normal” kind of harassment, which was common back then, but weird, obsessive, even vengeful sexual harassment toward actresses, I think. At any rate, glad to hear that I wasn’t hallucinating about Kim. We need to see that movie again. I DO like Vertigo a lot, but one of my favorite Hitch movies is Rear Window. I love the play-like atmosphere of it, all the characters in the building, and how helpless what’s-his-name was, with his broken limb and all that. 🙂
“negative ghost voice” is very apt 🙂 and lol indeed as you so eloquently say 🙂
My use of “a**hole” is very kind”? 🙂 Have any ideas for a stronger word I can chastise him for regarding his mean comment.? 🙂 As far as weird harassment stories go, the Tippi Hedren incident seems to stand out. Hedren has documented it numerous times in interviews that Hitchcock’s weird abuse towards her took place during the making of either The Birds or Marnie. And yes, please do check out Vertigo again, for me, it truly resembles the stuff dreams are made of or at least for this viewer 🙂 Rear Window is another masterpiece 🙂 I also agree with how inventive Hitch was with the single setting and how James (Jimmy) Stewart had to rely on his compromised physicality to save the day 🙂 I love how he uses the camera to fend off Raymond Burr’s character – with those red flashing bulbs 🙂
Oh, yeah, poor Tippi. She really got it from him. And yes, I may have a stronger word for him in general, but as you’re a gentleman and I’m a lady–or my husband WISHES I was more of a lady, lol–I will refrain from saying anything more. A**hole is good enough!
On that note, have a great weekend. lol
🙂 🙂 🙂
You have a great weekend as well 🙂