KQED: Gabe Meline- Kim Novak Opens Up: ‘I Think I’m Appreciated More Now’

Source:KQED- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, starring in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, from 1958.

Source:The Daily Review

"There's a line spoken by Kim Novak in the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece Vertigo that every devotee of the film knows by heart: “If I let you change me, will that do it? If I do what you tell me, will you love me?”

In reality, the plea was all too personal for Novak, the platinum blonde who during a string of hit films in the 1950s and '60s endured Hollywood's constant makeovers: to her hair, her clothes, her figure. She became, to critics and audiences, a sex symbol -- and little more."

From KQED

"XXII. Prague International Film Festival and ČSFD.cz presents interview with actress and artist Kim Novak."

From AVC-CVUT

Source:AVC-CVUT- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, at the Prague International Film Festival.

This is a good interview from Gabe Meline of Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak and I mean that in the most positive sense. Yes, she was not just hot in Hollywood, but physically hot in general. Great body and yet so adorable at the same time that she generally came off as 10-15 years younger than she actually was, if not even younger than that.

But Kim was so real and convincing as an actress. I think that is what made her great and again as I said before had her career not have been over for the most part by the late 1960s and I think we’re talking about one of the greatest actress’s ever. Same class as Susan Hayward, Rita Hayworth, Lauren Bacall, Lana Turner, Liz Taylor and many others. She was really that great in the 1950s and 1960s.

If you watch the movie Vertigo with Alfred Hitchcock, Madeline is Kim Novak. Either as the Hollywood bomb shell blonde or as the red-hot Hollywood bomb shell. A woman who looks like a goddess on the outside. Whose 5’6 and hot with a great body, but also as cute as a baby with a sexy voice. But on the inside she was a like a sixteen year old girl who wants the hottest guy in high school, but not ready to make a move, because she doesn’t think she’s good enough for him. Or thinks he won’t like her at all.

As great as Kim was she always had this self-confidence issue that wasn’t that different from Marilyn Monroe, but she was smart enough not to get involved in drugs and abuse alcohol. Especially together which would the slow way to commit suicide.

Madeline from Vertigo, is Kim Novak. This gorgeous baby-faced blonde with the great body and the sexy Czech-Slavic curves. Who is never sure of herself and just wants someone to love her for who she is and just love her. Who is involved with a guy and his fantasy about who she should be. And she goes out-her-way to try to be that person for him.

If you like Alfred Hitchcock and you like Kim Novak, you’ll love Vertigo. The perfect Hitchcock movie with the hot sexy adorable blonde with a great suspense/thriller and humor all in the same movie. Like all great Hitchcock movies. And you see the real Kim Novak in it. As a goddess on the outside that every straight guy with eyes whose not blind should love, but who is very vulnerable on the inside. Even though she doesn’t has any real reason to be.

Los Angeles Times: Patrick Kevin Day- Kim Novak- Hollywood Star Walk

Source: Los Angeles Times with an article about Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak.

Source:The Daily Review

When I think of pure beauty, grace, class, realism, adorableness, Kim Novak is not the only actress I think of, but she’s certainly one of my favorites. I don’t know of another actress who was that hot, baby-faced adorable and that well-built and that real. A hot 5’6 women with a great body and whose also baby-faced adorable, who played all of her roles as if she’s playing herself. If you judge an actress by how real and believable their character is, meaning do the you believe the actress playing the women or not, that alone would make Kim Novak not just one of the best actress’s of her generation that includes Angie Dickinson, Sophia Loren, Dyan Cannon, Liz Taylor and many others, Grace Kelly, but one of the best actress’s of all-time.

And I believe what makes Kim even better is that the women that she played most of the time tended to be very different from who she is in real-life. Kim, was somewhat shy and lacking in self-confidence and never quite sure of herself. Which was perfect for her in Vertigo where she plays Madeline who is very similar in personality. But look at The Man With The Golden Arm with Frank Sinatra and she’s playing the cool always sure of herself character. Whose trying to save a drug addict and gambler played by Sinatra, from himself. Which is my point about Kim that she was so good at playing her characters even people who were very different from herself. But played them so well as if she was playing herself.

I’m not saying Kim Novak is Lauren Bacall, or Liz Taylor, Rita Hayworth, Susan Hayward, but probably in the next group, or the one right after that if not the second one. Because she sort of burned out by the late 1960s and attempted a few comebacks after that without achieving the great roles that she use to have. Had she still been doing well in Hollywood in the 1970s and 1980s, maybe we’re talking about an actress who belongs in the first group of greatest actress’s of all-time. But for her time in the 1950s through the mid 1960s she was one of the best and best looking in Hollywood. And landed a lot of great movies and roles because of that. And someone who clearly belongs in the Hollywood Hall of Fame, or the equivalent of that.
Source:Goody Awards

Rod Willerton: 'Hollywood & the Stars- In Search of Kim Novak'

Source:Rod Willerton- in search of Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak.

Source:The Daily Review 

"Hollywood & the Stars was a US TV series broadcast in the 1960's by NBC. This episode studies the life and background of the star, Kim Novak."  

From Rod Willerton

Kim Novak, is Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield, except that she grew up. She might not be as versatile an entertainer as Marilyn and Jayne when it comes to comedy and music, but physically she's right there with both of them, but she grew up. 

Kim Novak was hot baby-face adorable, sexy blonde goddess, but she grew up and matured and was a woman in Hollywood. Not someone with the body of a woman, but the mind and personality of a teenage girl like Marilyn and Jayne. Who never grew up inside and could never see how valuable and great they could have been as entertainers. And a big reason why they both died in their mid thirties in the 1960s.

It is rare you have an actress that is physically this talented with this body, face and voice, but is also a hell of an actress. Who I believe was a classic real or personal actress where she made all of her characters real and became all of them and brought them to real-life. 

I think what made Kim a great actress is that she made her acting look so real. She literally became the person she was playing and made it look like she wasn't acting at all. And I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that she tended to play characters who she had a lot in common with. Who were physically gorgeous, sexy, and very cute, but lacked self-confidence and not quite sure they belong where they were, or even knew that they wanted to be there at all. Playing Madeline in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, is a perfect example of that.

Kim, has also played characters that were gorgeous, sexy, and adorable, but knew exactly who they were and what they wanted. Like in Boys Night Out, where she plays Cathy, who was a college student doing an article on the middle-age married man in New York. 

The other thing that I respect about Kim Novak is that acting wasn't who she was, but what she did. Similar to Ava Gardner, she didn't live to act, but acted to live the lifestyle that she wanted. She didn't need to be a star, but happened to be really good at what she did and was a goddess as well which made her a star. 

Kim would have been perfectly comfortable living on the water in Northern California her whole adult life just as long as she could afford to do that. Which is where her acting career came in, but didn't need to be an actress to be happy. She is truly special and I just wish she acted more.

Falcon Crest Blog: Entertainment Tonight- Kim Novak (1985)

Source:Falcon Crest Blog- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak in 1985.

Source:The New Democrat

“Falcon Crest: Themes From The Television Series – available on July 15, 2013 as a Download Edition on amazon and iTunes:Amazon, Apple. 

In this 1985 Interview with Entertainment Tonight’s Scott Osborne, Hollywood screen legend Kim Novak talks about leaving Hollywood, her life in Carmel in Northern California and her guest appearance in “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”.

One year later, Novak had a comeback in 1986 with a one year guest stint on CBS’ Prime Time Soap Falcon Crest.

Find more recent information about the FC Cast at the Falcon Crest Blog. Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter." 

From the Falcon Crest Blog

The Falcon Crest Blog originally had a video about this Kim Novak ET 1985 interview,  but that photo and video is not available there right now. 

Source:Falcon Crest Blog- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, on ET  Phone Home in 1985, LOL!

There were a lot of Hollywood bombshells produced by the Silent Generation. (People born in the 1930s and even mid to late 1920s) Actress’s like Marilyn Monroe, Angie Dickinson, Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield, and yes Kim Novak and several others. But only two of them are still alive today and only two of them even made it to their sixties. Angie Dickinson and Kim Novak.

Why, because these women weren’t just Hollywood goddess’ and bombshells. They weren’t just gorgeous, baby-face, sexy women, who by the way can also act a little. Angie and Kim are good actress’s who are also gorgeous, baby-face adorable and sexy. And they were also mature and intelligent, they knew how to take care of themselves and make careers for themselves. And not just live off of their stardom from early on. But use their stardom to make big careers for themselves.

Kim Novak actually left Hollywood voluntarily and then came back briefly in the 1980s. Because she didn’t need it to feel successful and important in life.

Movie Clips: Vertigo (1958) Kim Novak & Jimmy Stewart: 'Let's Wander Together'

Source:Movie Clips- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, as Madeline in Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo.

Source:The New Democrat  

"CLIP DESCRIPTION: Scottie (James Stewart) meets up with Madeleine (Kim Novak) again and she allows him to "wander" with her a while." 

From Movie Clips

I could simply listen and watch Kim Novak until Israel and Palestine came to peace and agreed to a two-state solution. There's just something about her voice and those eyes and cheeks that just makes me want to go "aw, she's so sweet and sexy". Angie Dickinson who is from the same generation as Kim has the exact same effect on me. And not only that, but her movies were really good and she worked for and with great people like Jimmy Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock. So you got to see her in great roles. 

This scene right here is just coming after Madeline spending the night or a big part of the night at Scottie's apartment in San Francisco the nigh before. They were complete strangers, but she fell into the San Francisco Bay and Scottie rescued her and brought her back to his place. He was paid by her husband to follow her because the husband claimed to be worried about her mental condition. 

What Scottie wasn't aware of was that a lot of this was part of a big act that the husband was setting up to cover up a murder. And they were using Scottie in this process.

Movie Clips: Vertigo (1958) Judy Jumps

Source:Movie Clips- Jimmy Stewart failing to avoid looking down at the ground.

Source:The New Democrat

The movie Vertigo had several sad scenes.  Madeline, played by Kim Novak, supposedly dies  and Scotty, played by Jimmy Stewart, who was in love with Madeline,  is committed to a mental hospital because of his reaction to her death.  But Judy, also played by Kim Novak, a goddess of a women dies for real.  She is my favorite character in the movie because with all the supposed freedom in the world,  she was so vulnerable.
Source:Movie Clips

Movie Clips: Vertigo (1958) Judy Becomes Madeleine

Source:Movie Clips- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak as Madeline.

Source:The New Democrat 

"CLIP DESCRIPTION:

Scottie (James Stewart) convinces Judy (Kim Novak) to do her hair like Madeleine and is overwhelmed by her appearance." 

From Movie Clips 

Scotty (played by Jimmy Stewart) falls in love with Madeleine (played by Kim Novak) who also happens to be the wife of a client of Scotty's, who is a private detective conducting and investigation of Madeleine for Madeleine's husband. Madeleine apparently dies but not really and Scotty finds a woman who looks a lot like Madeleine, only she has red hair instead of blonde and he becomes obsessed with Judy the red head because she reminds her so much of Madeleine, but Judy and Madeleine are the same woman. 

The whole plot of this film, is really a scam that Scotty's client and his wife try to pull against Scotty. And they almost get away with it. It's only till the final scene that Scotty, even though he was a veteran San Francisco, big city police detective, finally puts it all together.

Scott McGee: Kim Novak: 'TCM Star of the Month For September 2013'

Source: Scott McGee- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, being honored by Turner Classic Movies for Star of The Month, September, 2013. Well-deserved.

Source:The Daily Press

“:60 promo for Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month Kim Novak, September 2013. Written/produced by Scott McGee. Edited by Jay Bellissimo. Voiced by Sylvia Villagran.”

From Scott McGee

A gorgeous, sexy, baby, who always leaves you wanting to see more of her movies and appearances. I haven’t seen many women who are that gorgeous, sexy, as well, as baby-face adorable, who makes her characters seem so real, because she makes her characters part of her. Which is how Kim Novak acted and why she’s been so successful.

The phrase always leaves you wanting more can almost sound negative if not insulting, because it implies someone, or something is not good enough. But in Kim Novak’s case, that means she’s so hot and great that you want to see as much of her as possible. Like in:“Please, don’t go away.”

I believe Kim Novak is almost an under appreciated Hollywood Goddess and actress, because she gave up her career pretty quickly. She was finished acting by the late 1960s when she was in her mid-30s when she probably would have at least one if not two more great decades ahead of her where should could have had a great movie career. Or perhaps done TV as well and had a whole list of great roles in front of her. Because she was versatile and could play anyone. That goes to the always leaves you wanting more. Because she was so good and looked so great that you never wanted to see her go away.

Kim Novak or Baby Kim (as I call her) is truly one of the best actress’s I have ever seen and one of the best looking. This hot, baby-faced, woman, with the great body who was also a hell of an actress who again made her characters seem and brought them to real-life. Who also had this adorable silly side that could make you laugh. And yet her career as an actress was only about 10-15 years and that might even include her brief return in 1985 to work on prime-time soap operas. Who could have had a long great career and be remembered as one of the best actress’s of her generation, if not all-time.

Broadway Baby: Pepe (1960) 'Pepe Meets Kim Novak'

Source:Broadway Baby- Pepe Meets Goddess Kim Novak.

Source:The Daily Press

“Kim Novak’s cameo appearance in 1960’s PEPE starring Catinflas.”

From Broadway Baby

Pepe meeting a Goddess. Not just any Goddess, but Goddess Kim Novak. Which would be like meeting Queen Noor from Jordan, or some gorgeous adorable Goddess like that, a woman who when you see her at least for the first time, your brain goes blank, because your eyes and what you’re thinking about what you’re seeing, simply overwhelms the rest of your brainwaves.

Kim Novak, the Goddess who cut her own career short because she’s a somewhat shy, perhaps even aloof woman, who never saw herself as good as the people she worked for, worked with and who wrote about her. And thought she would be happier doing other things.

And here Kim is in this scene (I imagine playing someone else) who sees a very charming, cute, little Latin fellow, whose new to America and wants to buy his girlfriend a very expensive gift that he can’t afford. He’s in luck, because he not only meets a blonde Goddess, but a very sweet and not just physically, Goddess who is also very generous and just happens to run the jewelry store that Pepe is at. And decides that he’s worth her generosity and gives him a fat discount on the ring for his girlfriend.

Pepe gets the gift of a lifetime (in multiple ways) for this man and many other men. Which goes to show you that some Goddess’s actually are sweet as they look, Kim Novak, a hot, baby-faced, Goddess, who personally is as sweet as she looks.

Chatham 43: Richard Dingley Interviews Kim Novak (1956)

Source:Chatham 43- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak talking to Richard Dingley in 1956,

 “Hollywood actress Kim Novak interviewed in 1956.” 

From Chatham 43 

The mid and late-1950s was probably Kim Novak’s career at its peak. She essentially left Hollywood by 1970, for a brief return in the mid 1980s. Not that she had to because could’ve easily remained a star through her sixties and she was only twenty-three in 1956. She could probably still be acting today, because she’s still very healthy and still looks great. 

But in 1955 and 56, she gets The Man With The Golden Arm, Picnic and then two-years later in 1958 Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Kim Novak was on a role a Hollywood Goddess who not only looked the part, but got great substantial roles and performed beautifully in them. Not an actress who was simply a star because of her sex appeal and physical beauty, which she certainly had a lot of both anyway. But she was also a hell of an actress who I wish chose to have a long career.

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Thad Komorowski: Pal Joey (1957) 'Kim Novak's Strip Number'

Source:Thad Komorowski-Kim Novak and the girls in Pal Joey. 

"Kim Novak Strip Number from PAL JOEY"

Source:Thad Komorowski

Pal Joey from 1957, is not Kim Novak's, Rita Hayworth's, or Frank Sinatra's best movie, but they're all very good in it. Rita's hair is a little short for me in this movie, but she's definitely still gorgeous and still had her adorable smile and sweet voice.

Barbara Nichols who was about as cute as anyone who ever worked in Hollywood, had a small, but very important part in this movie. That seems to be the story of Barbara Nichols career, playing small, but very important parts in big movies. And playing them so well.

Kim Novak played a young and up-incoming dancer who is sort of looking for her big break. And this is not Las Vegas, but some small town that Frank Sinatra and Rita Hayworth who are both club owners and managers, are looking to make it rich there and perhaps create their own Vegas, or Atlantic City.

Kim and Rita, sort of end up in competition for Frank, even though that is not their number one goal. Kim wants her big break. Frank wants a big thriving club that he owns and manages. Rita wants the same thing and they end up competing with and using each other.

Flip Interviews: 'Kim Novak at the Egyptian Theater 7-30-2010'

Source:Flip Interviews- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak at the Egyptian Theater in 2010.

"Kim Novak discusses her life and career after a showing of 1958's "Bell, Book and Candle."

Source:Flip Interviews

Some women age, or get older, but Kim Novak lives longer and there's a difference. Because she doesn't show the years she's lived physically and doesn't look like an older woman. This is why I refer to Kim Novak as a Goddess and a Hollywood Goddess, because she's not an ordinary woman. (To put it mildly) Someone who is 80 years old tends to look like a grandmother and a woman you take your kids to see on the weekend so they can see their grandmother. Perhaps who struggles to get around and doesn't drive anymore . Maybe lives alone now, because her husband, your father died several years ago. 

Kim Novak, like with Barbara Eden (from I Dream of Jeannie fame) you see a beautiful-gorgeous blonde, who still has nice body and still strikingly cute with the great smile and voice, where when you walk up to her you just want to give her a big hug and tell her how sweet she is, because again she looks like a Goddess, a Hollywood Goddess who doesn't go through the normal inconvenient stages of life like looking old. 

John XXX: 'Kim Novak Tribute'

Source:John XXX- Hollywood Goddess and Babydoll Kim Novak.

"Born (in 1933) Marilyn Pauline Novak, a Roman Catholic of Czech extraction, Kim Novak is an American actress who was one of America's most popular movie stars in the late 1950's. She is perhaps best known for her performance in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo" (1958). She was discovered by Columbia Pictures searching for another beauty to replace the rebellious and difficult Rita Hayworth. Columbia decided to make the blonde and buxom actress their version of Marilyn Monroe. She soon became a most demanded actress. She was paired opposite Sinatra in "Pal Joey" (1957), which also starred Rita Hayworth. She showed a cunning sense of humor in Billy Wilder's cult classic "Kiss Me, Stupid" (1964) opposite Dean Martin. Novak has also made occasional appearances on TV over the years. She joined the cast of the series "Falcon Crest" in the role of Kit Marlowe during the 1986-1987 season. For her contribution to motion pictures, Novak was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1995, she was chosen by Empire Magazine in its list of the 100 sexiest stars in film history.

Enjoy Kim Novak's sublime beauty!"

Source:John XXX

Kim Novak was a gorgeous sexy baby, who could also act and I believe in the top 1% of best looking women of all-time. Better than Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. You could argue that Marilyn and Jayne Mansfield were prettier, (you could argue that) but Kim Novak will be 80 years old next month and is still beautiful, adorable, with a body and Marilyn and Jayne, both died in their mid-30's. 

These three women are all Silent Generation babies, except Kim was one of those babies who grew up. Marilyn, Jayne, and Kim, were all hot, sexy, great bodies, great voices, baby-face adorable. But Kim Novak is a woman, she grew up. Her personality, maturity, and intelligence, matched her goddess features. 

But to just talk about Kim Novak as a Goddess which she certainly is, is to leave out that she's a Hollywood Goddess. How great of a career would she have had if she didn't give up acting in the late 1960s and early 1970s? 

Kim Novak did Vertigo with Alfred Hitchcock  and Jimmy Stewart in the late 1950s, the great soap opera movie Strangers When We Meet with Kirk Douglas in 1960 and several other good movies all before she was 30, but by the late 1960s was done with acting, because she gave it up.