Sun Aug 31 09:20:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Kim Novak Expresses Concerns Over Biopic “Scandalous” About Her Affair with Sammy Davis Jr.**
Venice, Italy – Legendary Hollywood actress Kim Novak, known for her iconic roles in films like “Vertigo” and “Pal Joey,” has voiced reservations about an upcoming biopic titled “Scandalous,” which chronicles her relationship with entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. in the 1950s.
Speaking with The Guardian during the Venice Film Festival, where she is being honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, Novak expressed unease with the film’s title. “I don’t think the relationship was scandalous,” she stated. “He’s somebody I really cared about. We had so much in common.” Her concern stems from a fear that the film might sensationalize the affair and reduce it to purely “sexual reasons.”
Novak and Davis Jr. began a secret relationship in 1956 after meeting on “The Steve Allen Show.” Their romance faced immense pressure due to the societal norms and anti-miscegenation laws of the time, which prohibited interracial relationships. Studio executive Harry Cohn, head of Columbia Pictures, reportedly threatened Davis Jr. and warned Novak that the relationship would damage her career, leading to their eventual separation.
“Scandalous,” directed by Colman Domingo and starring David Jonsson as Sammy Davis Jr., is slated to begin production in late 2025. Domingo previously told Deadline that he envisions the film as “a beautiful, sweet film that’s really about the possibility of love” amidst societal constraints and the need for privacy.
While Novak acknowledges the challenges they faced, her comments highlight a desire for the film to accurately portray the depth and connection she shared with Davis Jr., moving beyond the sensationalism that often overshadows nuanced historical relationships. The Venice Film Festival is also hosting the premiere of “Kim Novak’s Vertigo,” a documentary by Alexandre Philippe exploring the actress’s experiences in the classic Hitchcock film.
First Piper 