Kim Novak is 74 today. Every man and woman has their own ideal of perfect beauty and Kim is one of three that I carry in my heart. Two of her roles that sealed the deal for me were her portrayals of Molly in Otto Preminger’s adaptation of Nelson Algren’s The Man with a Golden Arm and her riveting performance as Madge Owens in Picnic. Ms Novak won a Golden Globe Award for her performance of a young woman drawn between two men in this adaptation of William Inge’s play, which won a Pulitzer Prize. Her character, Madge, is engaged to a man and falls into desperate love with a drifter played by William Holden.

Algren’s Novel deals with the trap of addiction and its effect on the human soul. Frank Sinatra was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of a strung-out addict trying to put his life together on the straight after release from prison. But for me Ms Novak’s portrayal of Frankie Machine’s neighbor who tries to force him to clean up by going cold turkey was very remarkable. Elmer Bernstein’s jagged, upbeat music emphasized the emotional trauma Frankie endures in his life with harsh, staccato jazz riffs interspersed with sweet sounds set a frenetic beat for the film’s conflict.

The theme song for Picnic is a standard for romantic atmosphere, as it plays its sweet beguiling notes, segueing effortlessly into Moonglow.

I fell in love with Kim Novak. It must have been the moonglow.