Inside Kim Novak's Apartment (Boys' Night Out)

Want to move to New York and live in a hip apartment? Or move to the suburbs and live in a neat mid-century house? Then Boys' Night Out is the movie for you! 

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Let's take a look at the many gorgeous dwellings of Boys' Night Out. It was released on this day in 1962, so let's give it some love. 

Boys' Night Out tells the story of four men who live in the suburbs. They're all tired of their lives and want some adventure, so they arrange to rent a love nest apartment in New York City, complete with a live-in blonde (Kim Novak), who they think is there to be romanced. But she's actually there to work on her post-grad thesis about the sexual fantasies of men. 

Here are the men: Fred (James Garner), Howard (Howard Morris), George (Tony Randall), and Doug (Howard Duff). Fred is the only single one, the rest are married. They all live in Greenwich, Connecticut, and commute to New York City for work, and Thursday nights are boys' night out. 

The premise is that they're all dissatisfied at home for various reasons. George's wife constantly interrupts him and finishes his sentences, so they never have full conversations anymore. 

I love the ice blue on display in their bedroom. 

Fred is the lone friend who's divorced. His mother, played to great comedic effect by Jessie Royce Landis, is always in his business (but never in a nagging way, in my opinion). His kitchen/dining room area is very green and earthy. 

Doug's wife always wants to keep up with the Joneses and if something breaks, she doesn't want anyone to see him doing the work to fix it. Instead, they'll just buy new. 

I love the yellow kitchen details. 

I need that pale yellow telephone! 

Howard's wife is constantly on a diet and thinks that he should be, too, so that he's supportive of what she's going through. This leads to him trying to steal his kids' breakfast while she's not looking (they're always trying to stop him though, in typical kid fashion). 

I have a blue Pyrex casserole dish in a similar pattern to that, though it's the snowflake pattern. 

Did people just display chickens and roosters in their houses in the '60s? 

Now to the New York City love nest apartment. They find a listing in the back of a magazine, and it's super cheap because the previous tenant was murdered and the landlord (played by Jim Backus) can't rent it out. 

Look at those blood red walls!

And the padded backboard at the bar. Plus the light green sectional couch. This place is a dream!

Another angle from the bar. There are two bedrooms: one behind the lanlord and one behind Fred. 

Home bars are so stylish, in my opinion, and I don't even drink.

The master bedroom, with accents of gold, pink, turquoise and lavender...

...the bed looks comfy...

...and, uh, the ceiling's gold-plated. 

Love the antique dresser. 

Another view of the bar and the area leading to the balcony, because of course this apartment has balcony access. 

Quel view!

Turquoise balcony furniture. 

The bar, yet again. It's so sleek! 

This apartment also has a piano, because why not!

I love the stools for the bar area. 

Unbeknownst to Fred, Cathy (Kim Novak)'s also seen the ad and has come to inquire about renting it out. He tells her that it's unavailable, but she could stay on as a housekeeper. He doesn't know that she's doing post-grad work, and she never offers it up. 

Here's another view of the living room, with the fireplace and...interesting mantle décor.  

The dining area behind Cathy, continuing with the deep red colour scheme. 

Asian artwork and statues behind her leading to the second bedroom, which we never get a good glimpse of. 

Fred seated at the piano, with the kitschy city art hanging on the wall behind him. 

The stairs in front of Cathy leading up to the apartment door. I believe these types of living rooms were called conversation pits back in the '60s. 

Low orange chairs for yet another table setting towards the balcony. 

And to the last room we haven't seen... 

...the turquoise kitchen, which I'm in love with. I love the exposed cabinets and how everything's in blue. 

Later, Fred assembles the group and they arrive at their new love nest. They love the mirrored ceiling. 

There's Howard going into the second bedroom, which has a wrought iron headboard for the bed and coral walls, and shag carpeting. 

Gathering around the conversation pit to discuss how great the apartment is. Cathy's about to wander in from the kitchen and totally sell them on the place. 

There's Kim Novak, making the place look high glam. Look at the settee behind her!

Back to George's house for contrast. That's an interesting couch fabric behind them. Is it peacock? I'm sold!

And to Doug's house again. Their home is my least favourite, yellow kitchen accessories aside. It's so sterile. 

Okay, and that pink chair aside, too. 

I love the sliding door patio they have. It's a must when if I ever own a house. 

Over at Howard's house, where the wallpaper matches his wife's smock. 

And their bathroom is grey and yellow, which is a combo that just works. 

Back at the love nest, Cathy's already made it her home. She's got the closet full of glamorous dresses. 

Pumpkin décor behind her, and a carafe I think I also own... 

I'm obsessed with the bar, get used to it!

I'm also a fan of that chair. It looks comfortable. 

Cathy out on the balcony. She's going to let George talk her ears off, getting the conversation he can't get at home, and not getting interrupted once to say any of it. 

Back to Howard's house, which is my favourite of the suburb houses. Those curtains are amazing...

...as is this pink wallpaper!

A different look at the entry way at the love nest, with a little seating area just in front of the door. 

That long cabinet by the piano also holds a record player and stereo system, and Cathy's letting Doug be handy for a change. 

Meanwhile, she's in the turquoise kitchen while he does repairs. From this angle, I love it even more. 

She messes with the sink to give Doug something else to fix. 

And then, when it's Howard's turn to come over, she cooks him the kind of meal his diet-conscious wife won't make at home. The transparent oven door is fascinating to me. I didn't realize that was a thing. 

Perfection. 

Meanwhile, Fred and Cathy are just plum in love, so it's frustrating for him that she appears to be seeing all of his friends, and he won't seduce her. It angers her because she's in love with him but she's also trying to do her thesis work. 

Anyways, she sulks in the main bedroom when it's Fred's night to come around. 

And then has a temper tantrum outside the second room when he goes to bed. 

The love nest all sumptuously lit. That's a private detective, by the way, hired by the wives to figure out where their husbands are going in the city. 

And another glimpse of the love nest when the husbands figure out that Cathy's been keeping notes on them for her thesis. 

I won't spoil it for you, but it all comes to a head at the love nest when the wives find out where their husbands have been. At least we get more glimpses of this amazing apartment!

THE END! 

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I took all the screencaps in this post.

Read the Apartment Therapy posts for Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Ladies Man, Bachelor in Paradise, Pillow Talk, Any Wednesday, The Thrill of It All, and Critic's Choice!