Picnic **** (1955, William Holden, Kim Novak, Arthur O’Connell, Rosalind Russell, Susan Strasberg, Cliff Robertson, Betty Field, Nick Adams) – Classic Movie Review 5090

Director Joshua Logan’s heated and touching 1955 romantic drama is a high-powered version of William Inge’s Pulitzer prize-winning play about sexual turmoil in a small Kansas town. All the star players grab their chances to shine with fine performances: William Holden, Kim Novak, Arthur O’Connell, Rosalind Russell, Susan Strasberg, Cliff Robertson, Betty Field and Nick Adams. It won two Oscars – for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color and Best Film Editing.

William Holden is good even if he looks too old for his role as the young drifter Hal Carter, a mysterious stranger who arrives in town on the morning of the Labor Day picnic and sets off emotional fireworks. But Rosalind Russell as the spinster teacher Miss Rosemary Sydney and Arthur O’Connell as her reluctant boyfriend Howard Bevans are perfectly cast, and a particularly sexy young Kim Novak is outstanding in one of her best chances as a sultry beauty, Madge Owens. Susan Strasberg (aged 18) impresses in only her second film as Novak’s kid sister Millie, preyed on by Holden’s character Hal. Cliff Robertson, in his début, plays the drifter’s college buddy, Alan Benson.

James Wong Howe’s colour cinematography and the instrumental theme music ‘Moonglow’, written by Will Hudson, Edgar De Lange and Irving Mills, are also very considerable assets. Original stage director Logan (making his film début here) keeps the fireworks and fantasies together. ‘Moonglow’ is danced by Novak and Holden.

Also in the cast are Phyllis Newman, Verna Felton, Reta Shaw, Raymond Bailey, Elizabeth Wilson, Don C Harvey, Phyllis Newman and Shirley Knight.

It was remade for TV in 2000, with Josh Brolin, Gretchen Mol, Bonnie Bedelia and Mary Steenburgen.

The original Broadway production opened on 19 February 1953 at the Music Box Theater and ran for 477 performances.

Kim Novak won the 1955 Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Female for Phffft! (1955). She is also fondly remembered for Vertigo, The Man with the Golden Arm and Bell, Book and Candle.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5090

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