Kim Novak’s Concerns About Upcoming Biopic
Kim Novak, at 92, is expressing her unease regarding her life story being adapted into film. She’s particularly worried about how her past relationship with singer and actor Sammy Davis Jr. will be depicted in the upcoming movie “Scandalous!”, featuring Sidney Sweeney in the lead role.
In a recent interview, Novak remarked, “I don’t think the relationship is scandalous.” This conversation surfaced on Saturday, revealing her thoughts on the film’s portrayal.
Novak continued to reflect on her feelings about Davis, who passed away in 1990, stating, “He’s the guy I really care about.” Yet, she fears the film may focus too heavily on the romantic elements, mentioning, “But I think they’re going to make it all sexually.”
In this biopic, directed by Colman Domingo, who starred alongside Sweeney in “Euphoria,” the narrative will explore the couple’s relationship set against the backdrop of Hollywood’s golden age in the 1950s. Sidney Sweeney will portray Novak, while British actor David Johnson will take on the role of Davis.
The attraction between Novak and Davis sparked in 1957. However, their romance faced turmoil when Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn insisted they break up. Reports suggest that Cohn even pressured Davis to marry someone of color within 48 hours, threatening dire consequences if he did not comply.
Cohn was rumored to have ties to organized crime, making the threats against Davis even more alarming. After a tumultuous marriage to Lorey White in 1958 that lasted just a year, Davis faced a complicated love life. Meanwhile, Novak married Robert Malloy in 1976; they were together until his death.
Last year, Novak’s manager, Sue Cameron, discussed the importance of accuracy in the biopic, asserting that the project’s portrayal should be truthful. “Kim and I know of at least four fraudulent and unapproved projects about Kim Novak and Sammy Davis events,” Cameron shared. She emphasized that their romance was genuine, founded on love and mutual respect rather than a desire to marry at the time.
According to Cameron, Novak and Davis’s relationship was significant because they were seen as rebels in their time, hoping to challenge racial prejudices. “Scandalous!” is set to hit theaters in 2026.
