Picnic

Rating:
Summary: Picnic is a wonderful American classic of the time
Review: I miss this movie. It used to run regularly on TV from the 50's to the 70's and each time a saw it I found something new to appreciate. The casting was flawless. I am so saddened not to be able to find a copy ANYWHERE. If someone finds a site that can get even a used copy I'd forever be your debt if you'd email me.

Rating:
Summary: A classic I could watch over and over.
Review: One of my favorite all time movies,but difficult to explain to some people as to why I like it.My wife understands why and that's enough.Does anyone remember what celebration Kim Novak was the queen of and what the event was (hint) something spelled backwards.However the most memorable part of the movie was William Holden and Kim Novak dancing near the river at the PICNIC to the theme song from the movie.VERY VERY SEXY How many times have you ever seen William Holden dance. Sure hope they re-release it again,I've searched all over for it with no luck.

Rating:
Summary: One of the all time best love stories..3 kleenexer!
Review: I have seen the movie several times and each time I require kleenex next to me. I wish they would re-release it on video as it is one of the classics I would love to have in my collection along with other William Holden love stories. The movies of today are NO MATCH for the classics of yesterday.

Rating:
Summary: "PICNIC" A Film of Its Time!!!
Review: I do hope that this video will be released again very soon.It is a slice of William Inges story that could have only taken place in kindler..more simple times. This video has to be seen in letterbox format to appreciate the cinematography of James Wong Howe. Arthur O, Connell and Rosalind Russell do their best to steal every scene they are in. Kim Novak and William Holden are frozen in time and space when they dance at the pavillion. The terrific ending long shot.... first of the late Susan Strasberg running along the sidewalk and finally the mix of Novak,s bus and Holden,s train..heading toward Tulsa...wrap up the film with assistance from Stoloff and Dunning..! Cliches...well .....Ok. They dont make films like this anymore! A:

Rating:
Summary: William Holden & Kim Novak are OUTSTANDING in Picnic
Review: I saw PICNIC during its release in 1956 in India when I was in
school. I was crazy about English films and never missed a good
film.one of my class mates saw the film before me and remarked
about the energetic dancing of Holden as spellbinding.I was not
that keen in the beginning to see the film due to its title which meant lightweight and fun. But when I saw the film the experience was tremendous, I had just seen a masterpiece. William Holden and Kim Novak were just outstanding. Holden

brought a breath of fresh air as soon as he appeared, and Kim
Novak was not just a small town beauty queen, she oozed raw sex
and hidden desires exposed to the full by carefree but passionate William Holden. Although, without doubt the highlight of the film was the picnic and the dancing where all the principal players of the film are envolved emotionally and the finale to the story builds up, there other memorable scenes notably the swing scene where Holden gets hold of the swing where Novak is sitting, he begins playing with it unintentionally and realises for the first time that he has fallen for the fiancee of his best friend. Then there is that passionate scene beside the waterfall where both Holden and Novak admit their love for each other and kiss intensly, Holden with torn shirt. After this Holden runs and catches the running train and finally Novak follows him, her true love in the Greyhound. The execution of all these scenes and the whole story is nothing less than perfect. James Wong Hoe's technicolor photography is outstanding. Needless to say I have seen this film many times since and found it always charming.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful film. Still, please read and/or watch the play,
Review: Picnic
~ Joshua Logan


If one has never read, seen, or been involved in producing William Inge's original stage script, PICNIC, as a film, is a lush, beautifully photographed, solidly acted and well scored motion picture.

However if one is familiar with the play, the film's free adaption does change much of the immediacy and intimacy of the story. And maybe not always necessarily for the better.

One of the central problems facing a producing team in bringing a stage play to life is deciding what to do about setting. Many plays occur in a single unit setting, thereby hemming the characters in a very confined space, thusly raising the emotional stakes. That limited setting and the related lush dialouge often translates rather flatly on film.

Joshua Logan and his production crew chose to open the play up and use some very picturesque settings and stagings. The picnic of the title, really a red herring in the play, takes center stage here in the film and becomes a wonderful Paganesque fertility rite (hear vividly captured in this well-struck DVD).

This choice does make for some beautiful sights and sounds, but rather dilutes the dramatic intensity that drives Inge's central narrative. Again, if one is not familiar with the play, this will not make any difference.

Much has been already written about William Holden being perhaps too old for the part of Hal-a supposed twenty-something drifter. His fine acting ability really makes it a moot point unless of course in the scenes where he is supposed to be dating the teenage Millie (Susan Strassberg)and then it really seems rather "icky".

It could of course all add up to justifying Hal's attraction to the fertility goddess that is Madge. Holden's boyish athleticism and boundless energy makes his Hal the perfect archetypal warrior.

Kim Novack was never better as the awakening Midwestern Venus, rising out of our collective unconsciousness, that is Madge Owens. Her beauty is earthy and classic. Visually, Logan has done wonders making Hal and Madge fated into connecting. They will be responsible for regenerating the country.

Of course the film is underwritten when compared to the play. Several post romantic scenes simply do not contain the emotional power and poignancy that they do on stage. Inge's play-about choices and consequences and the severity of those choices is rather lost in the translation to film. Lost too somewhat is the painfull longing and loneliness that permeates so much of Inge's finest work.

All in all, PICNIC is a fine film. Perhaps one of the finer products to come out of the mainstream Hollywood studios of the 1950's. My suggestion is watch and enjoy the movie and, when given the chance, go see the stage version. Inge's play is one of the finest ever written. It is an American classic


Rating:
Summary: Moonglow moments
Review: You know it's good:

1. It's the look on William Holden's face when he first catches a glimpse of Kim Novak coming down the stairs in that pink dress. ("Madge is the pretty one"--she sure is)
2. It's the way she shimmies up to him. Revealing her intentions, she never loses eye contact or says a word.
3. It's the moment he takes her into his arms to dance close--he gives a little sigh of pleasure.
4. It's the look on his face when he's dancing--that criptic smile of pleasure and sensuality--all the while knowing that she's totally off limits.

and of course the song itself. This scene in itself makes the movie and with DVD you can play it over and over and over... Not many dance scenes have stood the test of time. I loved it. What can I say--I'm a chick.