A polite reminder before reading this blog entry of mine 🙂 I will not tolerate any insults or negativity towards my subject of this post. This blog entry is strictly for dyed-in-the-wool Kim Novak fans like myself or fans in general. So once again, please be kind 🙂
Today, I would like to wish a very happy 92nd birthday to great Classical Hollywood era actress Kim Novak 🙂 She is also an accomplished painter and while I could go on with details, instead I will direct you all to 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
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
Click here to read my Vertigo essay from last year
Let me conclude this post with a question for all of my dear readers below:
What were your favorite article links in this blog entry?
What were your favorite video links in this blog entry? Which ones did you all find the most fascinating?
What are your favorite Kim Novak films?
cinematiccoffee 
Glad you posted this , John. My own favorites from Novak’s credits would be Vertigo, Picnic, Strangers When We Meet – a film I came to rather late but it made a big impression on me – Bell, Book & Candle, Middle of the Night, Pal Joey. I mean to get back to Pushover soon as I recall that as being very good.
My comment wil not post, so trying this as a test.
Okay, second try and shortening the comment. My two favourite Kim films are Bell Book and Candle and The Man With The Golden Arm. Best wishes, Pete.
Roughly in the order of preference
Of Human Bondage
The Legend of Lylah Clare
Kiss Me Stupid
The Man with the Golden Arm
Pal Joey
Picnic
Jeanne Engles
Pushover
Strangers When We Meet
The Notorious Landlady
Thanks for your input Pete 🙂 I am so sorry that wordpress did not except the comment. I tried looking in the spam folder and I could not find anything there. I would have loved to have seen your expanded comment though 🙂 Interesting choices there Pete 🙂
Thank you for the kind words Colin and also for your insightful input 🙂 I am always happy whenever I hear that somebody else loves Vertigo every bit as much as I 🙂 Your choices are fascinating too 🙂 Pushover is excellent and I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Interesting ranking there Bill 🙂 Good to see that somebody else sees the merits of The Legend of Lylah Clare and Kiss Me Stupid 🙂
I have always wanted to see Bell, Book, and Candle, but never have! Thanks for the reminder.
It is delightful Whitney 🙂 I think you will enjoy it 🙂
I’ve only seen two films with Kim Novak–Vertigo and The Man With the Golden Arm. Both of them were great and she was great in both. I enjoyed the Robert Osborne interview. Thanks for the link. I’m a fan of his–RIP.
Vertigo, Bell, Book, & Candle, Picnic. But I have not seen all her films.
Glad to hear it Pam 🙂 Kim Novak was undoubtedly great in both of them as you so eloquently state 🙂 And yes, Robert Osborne was a fantastic host as well 🙂
Kim Novak was great in all of them DD 🙂 Check out more of her films when you get the chance 🙂
I’m surprised that you didn’t include Middle of the Night, which Novak herself thinks is her best screen work. While I don’t agree with her (in my opinion, nothing tops Vertigo), I think it is indeed an extraordinary performance. I also love her as the catty actress in Mirror Crack’d…
Middle of the Night is good Eric 🙂 Kim Novak was one of many stands outs in the film regarding the cast 🙂 The film’s director Delbert Mann also helmed the Oscar-winning Marty from 1955 🙂