Picnic (1955)

Emotions are ignited amongst the complacent townsfolk when a handsome drifter arrives in a small Kansas community on the morning of the Labour Day picnic.

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Daniel Taradash (screenplay), William Inge (play)

Stars:

William Holden, Kim Novak, Betty Field

Won 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
William Holden	...	Hal Carter
Kim Novak	...	Marjorie 'Madge' Owens
Betty Field	...	Flo Owens
Susan Strasberg	...	Millie Owens
Cliff Robertson	...	Alan Benson
Arthur O'Connell	...	Howard Bevans
Verna Felton	...	Helen Potts
Reta Shaw	...	Irma Kronkite
Nick Adams	...	Bomber
Raymond Bailey	...	Mr. Benson
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Christine Schoenwalder (as Elizabeth W. Wilson)
Rosalind Russell	...	Rosemary - The School Teacher

Storyline

The morning of a small town Labor Day picnic, a drifter (Hal Carter) blows into town to visit an old fraternity buddy (Alan Benson) who also happens to be the son of the richest man in town. Hal is an egocentric braggart - all potential and no accomplishment. He meets up with Madge Owens, the town beauty queen and girlfriend of Alan Benson.

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Plot Keywords:

picnic | drifter | small town | labor day | love | 

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Taglines:

A never-to-be forgotten picture - from the Pulitzer Prize winning story by William Inge!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 February 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Picknick

Filming Locations:

Halstead, Kansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 113 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While selecting locals to play extras in the film, director Logan said, "There's a girl with a typical Kansas face." The woman, Joan Farwell, was hired for "atmosphere" but confessed, "I'm from Brooklyn. I'm just here visiting my grandmother."

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Goofs

During the picnic while Hal is carrying Millie above his head with one arm, Millie knees are exposed. The next angle scene shows Millie holding her dress below her knees covering her knees.

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Quotes

Flo Owens: Where is everybody?
Helen Potts: At a picnic everybody disappears. Don't you remember, Flo?

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Connections

Referenced in Full Circle with Michael Palin: Mexico/Western USA/Canada/Alaska (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't She Sweet?"
(uncredited)
Music by Milton Ager
Lyrics by Jack Yellen

User Reviews

Excellent Flawed Flick to Love.

Very Good movie, despite the flaws. A must for anyone into American mid-century drama. Beautifully filmed and written. Some excellent performances. The Good: Rosalind Russell, Arthur O'Connell, Betty Field, Susan Strasberg. The adequate: Kim Novak and Cliff Robertson. The not too great: William Holden. I'm not bothered by Novak's performance, she was often only as good as her director, and Joshua Logan was an entirely stagebound stylist. Holden on the other hand, is entirely miscast. Way too old for the character by at least 10 years. This is a meaty, sweaty, rebellious part suited to a young Paul Newman or James Dean, not a late '30's, already craggy faced William Holden (he was ideally suited for his Bridge on the River Kwai role). The reading of his lines is artificial and contrived, the pacing atrocious. It's really Logan's fault though. In every one of his films, characters, especially the supporting ones, end up performing like cartoon characters... (Betty Field in Bus Stop, Everyone in South Pacific and Fanny)... and in Picnic, Logan lets almost everyone go over the top with this kind of mannered, ill-paced stuff. However, I love this flick too... the story conquers the flaws, and it consistently pulls me in. Rosalind Russell (though she's allowed to go over the top too) and Arthur O'Connell have remarkable scenes together. Good Movie!