|
| Picnic
Year: 1956
Classification: Drama
Directed:
- Joshua Logan
Actors/Actresses:
- William Holden
- Kim Novak
A subtle movie! A Dynamite Cast! A Gorgeous Score!
This is a subtle and rewarding film. The cast is magnificent--the performances great! One of my favorite film scores too!
A hint for watching the movie. With each viewing, I find I have been concentrating on a different actor. Kim Novak is definitely at her peak; William Holden is remarkable; Rosalind Russell is at her very best, with a fantastically varied and difficult part; Susan Strasberg is wonderful indeed. All of the supporting actors are super too! And this IS primarily a story of individuals' lives, and how they are changed.
The film gives a remarkably accurate picture of life in 1950's rural Kansas. But onto this background is thrust a love story of great interest and appeal. The film has super color and fine sound (for its era anyway).
The film is, quite simply, astounding. Don't rent it....buy it, bucause it just gets better and better with repeated watchings!
A Picnic They Won't Soon Forget
It's Labour Day weekend in a small midwestern town, and drifter William Holden rides the rails in, looking to get a job from college buddy Cliff Robertson. He meets Robertson's girlfriend Kim Novak, her younger sister Susan Strasberg, their mother Betty Field, old maid schoolteacher Rosalind Russell, and Russell's boyfriend Arthur O'Connell. His appearance sets the stage for a Labour Day picnic they all won't soon forget, as the handsome drifter stirs the women up. Holden is a little old for the role, but does such a great job of infusing the character with desperation, charm, and painful honesty that his age is hardly a liability. Novak is good as the beautiful girl who wants to be known for more than just her beauty. She doesn't bring much depth to the character, but she and Holden have an excellent chemistry on screen together. The supporting cast is uniformly great. Russell pulls out all the stops as the frustrated and pathetically desperate teacher, while O'Connell is laid back and a perfect counter-punch to her histrionics. It's the kind of a story that almost everyone can find something to relate to - if you've ever felt trapped in your life, or been unsatisfied with where your life has gone, or had dreams for something more. It's well written, well acted, and well worth watching.
William Holden & Kim Novak are OUTSTANDING in Picnic
I saw PICNIC during its release in 1956 in India when I was in<BR>school. I was crazy about English films and never missed a good<BR>film.one of my class mates saw the film before me and remarked<BR>about the energetic dancing of Holden as spellbinding.I was not<BR>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<BR>Novak was not just a small town beauty queen, she oozed raw sex<BR>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.
William Holden ; Kim Novak are OUTSTANDING in Picnic
I saw PICNIC during its release in 1956 in India when I was inBR>school. I was crazy about English films and never missed a goodBR>film.one of my class mates saw the film before me and remarkedBR>about the energetic dancing of Holden as spellbinding.I was notBR>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 KimBR>Novak was not just a small town beauty queen, she oozed raw sexBR>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.
Buy Picnic at Amazon.com
Buy posters at Allposters.com
Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
| |
