MovieChat Forums > Pal Joey (1957) Discussion > Gorgeous Kim Novak steals the show

Gorgeous Kim Novak steals the show


I saw this film only because I'm a Kim Novak fan, and didn't expect much (not being a Sinatra fan), but found myself surprisingly moved. Already, even at this early stage in her career, Novak had all of the qualities that make her, for me and for many of her fans, the most magnetic actress ever. The vulnerability, the insecurity, coupled with the dazzling beauty -- a trembling, fragile spirit, yet in a sensually curvaceous body. Utterly irresistible. I believed every single moment with her in this movie, every single scene.

The film played up the Novak/Hayworth contrast extremely well. I was surprised that a contemporary Hollywood film could capitalize on the bad girl/good girl duality so effectively. The contrast between the love song and the strip song -- another fine and symbolic touch. Novak was perfectly cast in this role, which seems almost to have been written specifically for her.

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Couldn't agree more. I was unable to take my eyes off of her.

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I third it!

Wow, Novak was amazing! I saw 'Pal Joey' after watching the first screen-pairing of Sinatra and Novak 'The man with the golden arm'; which is far different from 'Pal Joey' but the pairing worked so well between the two. And it was great to see Hayworth revive a role kind of like 'Gilda'

And who could ever forget 'My funny little valentine'...I'm a straight female and I have to say Novak is a "red hot momma"!!








"I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you."- Peter O'Toole

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^Indeed, not only is Kim the true dazzling highlight of this film, but the Funny Valentine scene itself is probably the most dazzling part of her entire performance. And very possibly one of the most beautiful showcases for ANY beautiful woman in the history of cinema. Seriously.

That scene is probably what changed me from a Kim Novak fan into someone who considers her one of his favourite actresses. Props to her. =)

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I read in an 50's movie magazine that Kim Novak reminded, the then present audience, of classic actresses whom they admired! And she does have that down-pact; I know it isn't an "act" she put on. She seems like a very meek and caring woman and that's why she has star-quality. She really is a classic lady and I admire her for that!

We need true role-models like Kim in the spotlight! I don't know how or why it went all down hill but film actresses of morales are very hard to come by, now.












"I have no memories I'm prepared to share with you."- Peter O'Toole

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i find her performance twitchy and emabarassing when rita does her zip number she shows what class really is wiping the floor with the pallid novak why joey is d supposed to choose the novak character is beyond me

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It is hard to see Novak as the "innocent" girl. A girl who looked like that, and worked at a place like that, would need a can of mace every night of the week. She's probably seen a bunch of heels like Joey and would know how to avoid them.

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I agree. I watched this movie for Rita, and Novak seemed to leave a bad taste in my mouth. I didn't realize that this was in Rita's later years. I was in awe of how she oozed class and sexuality.
Kim... Well, sure, she is gorgeous, but her acting=average. She just seems so superficial and fake.
Nonetheless, it was a wonderful movie.

"The only exercise I take is walking behind the coffins of friends who took exercise."

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Kim Novak was a gloriously attractive woman but it is total nonsense to say she "steals the show" in Pal Joey.

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Kim Novak was a fluke in the 60's...attractive yes, but a bad actress...there are a dime a dozen in Hollywood just as attractive but in the acting skills blah. Rita had beauty and talent, but unfortunately, it was starting to fad at the time this movie was made. Columbia thought they had their 'Monroe" version and were trying to build her up, and failed.

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Kim Novak was not a bad actress. She was just a bad actress in 'Pal Joey". She seemed out of her element. I saw her in other movies, like Vertigo and her acting skills came across with excellence, but she truly lacked that in 'Pal Joey'. But that's just my opinion. I can say that her beauty is awesome and just looking at her gives me goosebumps. She's listed as 5' 6", but she seems taller than that, about 5' 8", maybe.

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Kim Novak was not a bad actress. She was just a bad actress in 'Pal Joey". She seemed out of her element. I saw her in other movies, like Vertigo and her acting skills came across with excellence, but she truly lacked that in 'Pal Joey'. But that's just my opinion. I can say that her beauty is awesome and just looking at her gives me goosebumps. She's listed as 5' 6", but she seems taller than that, about 5' 8", maybe.

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I thought Snuffy stole the show. He was about the only likeable character in the whole wretched thing.

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Novak was beautiful, but NO ONE can touch Gilda!

"There is nothing more powerful than the written word..."

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Gorgeous, Kim Novak certainly was. But she couldn't act her way out of a paper bag.
I have never seen any movie she was in where she really acted - she was just eye candy. In this one she was embarrassingly bad.

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Funny how there's such a difference of opinion about Novak's acting abilities. Count me as one of her big fans in that regard, in addition to her great beauty and sexuality. Sinatra was perfectly cast, and Rita Hayworth was excellent, both well cast and gave a great performance. So did the supporting cast.

But i gave this a nine and no more because it is not a great film, and in specific I agree that the narrative element of Novak's character as a naive innocent was just too unrealistic (innocent sure, but naive?). A woman who looks like that would especially in that day (when what we refer to as sexual harassment was more common and virtually accepted, even expected) have had plenty of experience dealing with the Joeys of that world, and it is so implausible that she would be both unattached and open to a relationship with someone like him, that it is virtually a plot hole (considering the film's ending).

Despite the implausibility, I admit the happy ending appealed to me, or more accurately the mere possibility that the ending is a prelude to a longer term happiness (which, again, is pretty implausible, but there you have it).

Back to Novak - imo she had some inconsistent work to deal with, but starting with Picnic I think she was an excellent actress. Appeals to authority are problematic, but it is a fact that the great Alfred Hitchcock cast her in Vertigo based on his assessment of her work in Picnic, and imo her work in Vertigo was one of the greatest performances by an actress in any single role. Pal Joey is nowhere near the film Vertigo is, but I still loved Novak here. Don't get the haters.

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Novak is a joke, in every way compared to Rita.

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She's the main reason I watch this whenever it comes on tv. Incredibly stunning and delicious in everything she's in. Even the bad movies like Kiss Me, Stupid.

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I had never seen this movie and caught it this week on Netflix.

I cannot believe anyone thinks Novak "stole" the show. Her acting was terrible, very wooden and unbelievable. Frankly, I was underwhelmed by the entire movie. I've heard about it for years and was very disappointed. The plot was predictable, the music fair at best, and Rita Hayworth looked bad. All of that being said, I think Novak was the worst element of it.

Novak was pretty good in "Vertigo" but I can't think of another movie in which I thought she gave a stellar performance. I like Novak but, frankly, no one would ever confuse her acting skills with Meryl Streep.

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She was the best part of the movie

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The best part of the movie is the music! That's the thing about "Pal Joey", the story is repulsive, and I want to scream when I see the nice girl choose to stay with that asshole, but the music is immortal and the only reason the show is remembered.

As for the movie version, well, Novak and Hayworth were good and gorgeous, but I still spend my viewing time wishing they'd throw their drinks in Joey's face and walk off to have a good gossip about all the horrible things he's done to them.

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Nobody steals shows. What an absurd expression.

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