—Kim Novak
—Eva Marie Saint
—Janet Leigh
1983
oil on canvas
36 x 40 inches
Last Friday Seraphic Secret published a photo allegedly from World War II titled “Leave No Man Behind”. One of our readers, David M., conversant with WWII photography, did not recognize the picture, conducted some research and wrote to me the following:
It turns out the photograph is a staged photograph of dolls taken by Mark Hogancamp. His own story is pretty remarkable as you can see from the accompanying story. Apparently, you are not the first one to be fooled. I didn’t think it was a fake, but I was surprised that I had no memory of ever having seen it anywhere before your column.
We thank David M. for his diligence and apologize for our mistake.
I’ve seen that Novak look before: “We’re going where and doing what on this date?”
Yeah. It seems to me I saw it pretty much every time I tried to ask out a girl in the 1980s.
60’s, 70’s, 80’s,…………it’s been a “look” popular down through the ages.
I thought Kim was Columbia’s answer to Rita Hayworth’s marriage to Aly Khan. I stayed in the Hotel on Mont Saint Michel where they stayed on their honeymoon and there are photos on the wall of the breakfast room of them. Rita eventually came back but never got her mojo back.
“Bell, Book and Candle” is a favorite film of Kims for me.
Interesting that Kim has an art web site and sells paintings.
My wife Karen loves “Bell Book and Candle.” Kim’s performance is wonderful. But her work in Vertigo is just brilliant.
What a wonderful quote from Eva Marie Saint. I think she lives in Santa Monica and years of stardom did not screw her up.
Kim lives up in Oregon I believe and a fire at her home destroyed all of her film memorabilia,
When Grace Kelley left Hollywood wasn’t Kim the result of Hitch’s search for the “perfect blonde”?
I think they would both be interesting for an afternoon’s conversation.
I like your thought about Eva Marie Saint, but disagree that stardom screws people up. That is the way they happen to be, with or without careers.
Your comment underneath the Janet Leigh’s Lux ad made me laugh, for a number of reasons. I was staring at it for several minutes trying to understand the layout (her disembodied head wearing an ugly sun hat – a gloved hand [that matches her hat and the visible collar of her invisible dress] holding a cotton candy swirl that’s as big as her head), before I noticed your comment. I couldn’t understand why the ad agency would use props that distract the viewer from focusing on her beautiful face … and product? If the ad had been done in the 70s, rather than the 50s, then they might’ve used this prop: http://www.aliexpress.com/item-img/Short-popular-Pink-Jumbo-Afro-Wig-Costume-Halloween-Party-dress-up-party/32385630909.html?spm=2114.10010108.100005.12.1TMGBp
Happy Birthday, Livia Yarden 🙂
Kim Novak was one of those women who (to me anyway) seem to secrete sexiness. I know she was an actress and her image was managed, etc., but every time I see her on screen, she looks seductive and alluring.
Eva Marie Saint is another stunning woman, but on a different level than Novak.
I love the de Kooning painting Rider and the Stella Odelsk 3 piece.
I also love Robert’s Friday Photo posts… keep up the great work, Robert! I wish you, your readers and your lovely wife a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
I’ve honestly never understood the sexual appeal of Kim Novak.
Eva Marie Saint, on the other hand, would be irresistible if I was a widower looking to remarry.