Picnic-1955

Director Joshua Logan

Starring William Holden, Kim Novak

Top 250 Films #81

Scott’s Review #550

Reviewed December 19, 2016

Grade: A-

Picnic is a classic 1955 film that is wonderful to watch over Labor Day weekend or anytime during the humid summer season.

The film perfectly depicts summertime in a tiny town in Kansas. It is a slice-of-life story about life in middle America during the 1950s, despite its trials and tribulations.

William Holden stars as a “wrong side of the tracks” type of guy who arrives in a quiet Kansas town on Labor Day weekend, disrupting the town’s events and causing scandals for the townspeople.

He is a hunky former college football player and exudes sexuality.

He then falls in love with his best friend’s girlfriend, Madge Owens, played by Kim Novak. The chemistry between the two stars is the film’s main appeal.

The supporting cast makes this film unique (Arthur O’Connell and Rosalind Russell star as townspeople who are in a relationship of their own).

Picnic also contains a gorgeous and lovely musical score, precisely “Theme from Picnic” and “Moonglow”.

It is shot on location in Kansas, mostly in and around Hutchinson, and is considered classic summer enjoyment.

Based on the Pulitzer-award-winning play.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Motion Picture, Best Director-Joshua Logan, Best Supporting Actor-Arthur O’Connell, Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture, Best Art Direction, Color (won), Best Film Editing (won)