Picnic (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Emotions are piqued among some Kansas townsfolk when a handsome drifter arrives on the eve of Labor Day in 'Picnic' (directed by Joshua Logan & based on a William Inge play). This film was all the rage back when it was released in 1955; with all its themes & plot incident based around sex, who's having it, & who isn't. Watching it today in 2013, the whole thing feels a bit dated & somewhat inauthentic. BUT, the movie is still a voyeuristic curio. It contains many fascinating variables. And there's something imminently watchable about it; even if I don't think it's particularly "great".
The 1st part of 'Picnic' sets up the characters & leads-up to the annual town picnic. The 2nd part shows the picnic (an evocative slice of life, with pie-eating contests & 3-legged races). And the 3rd part shows the 'aftermath' {if you will}. The fall-out from the picnic all surrounds drifter, Hal Carter (William Holden), who comes to the small, rural town & ultimately changes everyone's lives. As Hal - a handsome, charming, but lying loser (in winner's clothing) - Holden acts with good intensity. The only thing that affects his performance is that the character is supposed to be in his mid-late 20s, but he was a slightly weathered 36 yrs. old when filming began; and his smoke-burnished voice only made him appear older yet. That said, Hal is at the end of his rope; so the older look works in context.
As Madge, a small-town girl about to be engaged (to amiable Cliff Robertson, in his 1st major role), Kim Novak paints a pretty picture (wearing a long, strawberry-colored wig, to boot). There is a melancholy blankness in her eyes & an oddity about her line deliveries; and yet, that somehow works, here. Lucky for Hal, 19 yr. old Madge is still young enough to be impressed by tall tales of his experiences, & she responds to his looks. They partake in a slow, sensual, mercurial dance at the picnic that generates some sexual heat – VERY erotically charged for back in 1955. One thing, though: it felt a bit out-of-character for Madge to descend from a nearby bridge & start dancing with a drunk Hal to begin with -- that wasn't her nature. I question if vapid airhead Madge would even care about sexual yearnings. Eh, whatever the case … it is an intoxicating scene to witness.
Other than her 'does she want sex or not?' character trait, Madge also wants to make sure not to wind up like the town spinster, local schoolteacher, Miss Rosemary Sydney (Rosalind Russell). Russell plays this role as a loud, needy & somewhat spiteful lady in her mid-40s; an over-the-top performance that reminded me of her fun portrayal in 1939's The Women. However, the execution of that over-the-top-ness is different. In The Women, it's controlled & very humorous. In 'Picnic', her antics come across as shrill, at times. It's when her character quiets down & shares some low-key scenes with her gentleman friend (stellar Arthur O'Connell) where her subtlety shines through; and it is lovely. Still, no matter if she's shrill or subtle, Rosalind Russell is a one-of-a-kind asset to any film she's in.
The cinematography is spectacular (the camera loves Kim Novak - even if she doesn't seem to love it back - and the shots of Kansas are beautiful). As mentioned, William Holden (miscast or not) impresses. Betty Field, Reta Shaw & Susan Strasberg (who felt the most "real" of any character) have their moments. Cynics will say that 'Picnic' is a sugary melodrama where some of the characters' motivations/actions come across strangely. i.e., why would a character run from a loving environment with someone they'd met the day before; and with limited interaction -- it happens because the script called for it. But 'Picnic' offered me a pleasant trip back to a time & place when sex seemed like such a BIG deal. Despite my issues with the film, I really dug it.
The 1st part of 'Picnic' sets up the characters & leads-up to the annual town picnic. The 2nd part shows the picnic (an evocative slice of life, with pie-eating contests & 3-legged races). And the 3rd part shows the 'aftermath' {if you will}. The fall-out from the picnic all surrounds drifter, Hal Carter (William Holden), who comes to the small, rural town & ultimately changes everyone's lives. As Hal - a handsome, charming, but lying loser (in winner's clothing) - Holden acts with good intensity. The only thing that affects his performance is that the character is supposed to be in his mid-late 20s, but he was a slightly weathered 36 yrs. old when filming began; and his smoke-burnished voice only made him appear older yet. That said, Hal is at the end of his rope; so the older look works in context.
As Madge, a small-town girl about to be engaged (to amiable Cliff Robertson, in his 1st major role), Kim Novak paints a pretty picture (wearing a long, strawberry-colored wig, to boot). There is a melancholy blankness in her eyes & an oddity about her line deliveries; and yet, that somehow works, here. Lucky for Hal, 19 yr. old Madge is still young enough to be impressed by tall tales of his experiences, & she responds to his looks. They partake in a slow, sensual, mercurial dance at the picnic that generates some sexual heat – VERY erotically charged for back in 1955. One thing, though: it felt a bit out-of-character for Madge to descend from a nearby bridge & start dancing with a drunk Hal to begin with -- that wasn't her nature. I question if vapid airhead Madge would even care about sexual yearnings. Eh, whatever the case … it is an intoxicating scene to witness.
Other than her 'does she want sex or not?' character trait, Madge also wants to make sure not to wind up like the town spinster, local schoolteacher, Miss Rosemary Sydney (Rosalind Russell). Russell plays this role as a loud, needy & somewhat spiteful lady in her mid-40s; an over-the-top performance that reminded me of her fun portrayal in 1939's The Women. However, the execution of that over-the-top-ness is different. In The Women, it's controlled & very humorous. In 'Picnic', her antics come across as shrill, at times. It's when her character quiets down & shares some low-key scenes with her gentleman friend (stellar Arthur O'Connell) where her subtlety shines through; and it is lovely. Still, no matter if she's shrill or subtle, Rosalind Russell is a one-of-a-kind asset to any film she's in.
The cinematography is spectacular (the camera loves Kim Novak - even if she doesn't seem to love it back - and the shots of Kansas are beautiful). As mentioned, William Holden (miscast or not) impresses. Betty Field, Reta Shaw & Susan Strasberg (who felt the most "real" of any character) have their moments. Cynics will say that 'Picnic' is a sugary melodrama where some of the characters' motivations/actions come across strangely. i.e., why would a character run from a loving environment with someone they'd met the day before; and with limited interaction -- it happens because the script called for it. But 'Picnic' offered me a pleasant trip back to a time & place when sex seemed like such a BIG deal. Despite my issues with the film, I really dug it.