William Holden & Kim Novak as the drifter & the beauty queen in 1955's "Picnic." |
Picnic
portrays the lives of quiet—or raucous, in the case of Roz Russell—desperation.
Set in a small Kansas town during the 1950s, the story revolves around the
effect that a charismatic young drifter has on the repressed townspeople one
sizzling Labor Day.
Picnic
is the Pulitzer Prize winning play by William Inge, at the height of his acclaim.
The domestic drama was a huge
Broadway hit that was brought to the screen by its stage director, Joshua
Logan. Noteworthy about the stage version were some up-and-coming actors: Ralph
Meeker as drifter Hal Carter; Paul Newman in his Broadway debut as rich kid
Alan; Janice Rule as beauty queen Madge; and Kim Stanley at age 28, as kid
sister Millie! Eileen Heckart portrayed Rosemary, the spinster teacher who
spins out of control on Labor Day evening.
William Holden's "boyishness" act as Hal is as awkward as Kim Novak's acting. |
I’m
sure Columbia Studios paid William Inge a pretty penny to bring his play to the
big screen. Columbia head honcho Harry Cohn was giving Kim Novak a huge build
up and decided this property would be perfect to launch her as a leading lady.
Therefore, a “name” leading man was needed. Instead of going off the studio lot
for a suitable male star to play the sexy young college dropout/drifter—say
Brando?—Cohn chose studio homeboy William Holden to play Hal. And Harry didn’t
have to pay a pretty penny for Bill, because it was the last film on Holden’s
old studio contract. It’s a shame Marlon Brando did Guys and Dolls instead of Picnic.
Brando was six years younger than Holden, far more boyishly charismatic.
William Holden was a fine actor, but too careworn & not carefree as Hal in "Picnic. |
While
Holden was an especially subtle male actor for the era, he was a decade too old
for the part. What made this especially noticeable was that while Bill’s bod
was still in fine form, Holden’s face was already showing signs of alcoholic
dissipation at just 37. When Holden acts like an over-aged teenager, it’s
especially awkward as he tries to impress Madge, played by 22-year-old Novak.
William Holden's form was fine, but his close-ups showed hard living in "Picnic." |
Still,
Bill had charisma, authority, and “rugged” sex appeal, so Holden as the young
stud wasn’t a total dud. Hal Carter reminds me of Tennessee William’s later character,
Chance Wayne, in Sweet Bird of Youth.
They’re golden boys who come to a small town and stir things up, and both want
to make off with the lovely ingénue. Both are Peter Pans, star athletes with
aspirations of movie stardom, but neither have never amounted to anything. Ironically,
Paul Newman was the same age as Holden in Picnic
when he played Chance in ’62. While Newman liked his beers, it didn’t show,
like the effects of whatever Holden hoisted.
Rosalind Russell lets rip on William Holden's shirt, as passions get heated in "Picnic." |
An
amused eye roll comes when Columbia cut the line from Picnic’s climactic dance scene: “I feel just like Rita Hayworth!” I
guess they were more concerned with shining a spotlight on Columbia’s new love goddess, Kim Novak!
Cliff Robertson as the rich beau that Kim Novak's Madge "should" want, in "Picnic." |
Kim
as Madge is a contradiction, as often is the case with Novak’s acting. Kim’s
shyness and uncertainty works for the character, and she was often cast thusly.
I’m sure playing a girl who is valued mainly for her looks hit home for
insecure Kim, who was treated like an object by Harry Cohn. Yet, Novak’s studio-trained
mannerisms and dazed demeanor reminds me of another actress who often felt
uncomfortable in front of the camera, Jennifer Jones, thrust into the spotlight
by her Svengali, David O. Selznick.
Kim’s Madge is an uneven performance, yet her vulnerability goes a long way,
and she and Holden have a strong chemistry. Kudos to whoever decided that Novak
temporarily drop her “lavender blonde” look. With her simple makeup and a long
reddish brown wig, Kim looks pretty yet realistic as the local beauty queen.
Columbia Studios' blonde bombshell Kim Novak was toned down for the small town drama "Picnic." |
Rosalind
Russell as Rosemary, the middle-aged teacher who boards at the Owens’ home, is
another mixed blessing from the leads. Eileen Heckart was said to be a wow in
the role on Broadway, though she was known to play big, too. While Roz bravely
goes glamour-free and plays her age, unlike most of her contemporaries, Russell
plays to the rafters far too often. It’s a tricky role, because Rosemary is an over the top character, which can
be problematic when played by an actress who is often the same. As often the
case with a “big” performance, Roz fares best in the smaller moments, when her
Rosemary shares the fear of growing old alone. Russell is obviously a skilled
actress and a smart one, but like the other lead actors in this film, she would
have benefited from a more experienced film director, and not a theater director
whose film work showed a heavy hand.
Rosalind Russell emotes as Rosemary, the desperate school teacher in "Picnic." |
Arthur
O’Connell is appealing and effortlessly believable as Howard, the store owner
across the river, who sees Rosemary, but from a safe distance. Betty Field
doesn’t play brassy for a change, as Madge and Millie’s mother. Field’s Flo has
been deserted by her husband to raise the two girls the best she can. Betty is
totally natural as a woman whose dreams are now for her daughters. Only in a
‘50s movie would Susan Strasberg be cast as the “plain” sister. Susan’s
naturalistic as the brainy kid sister (with eyeglasses!). Strasberg’s as
emotional as Novak is remote as the pretty sister, Millie’s outburst—“Madge is
the pretty one!”—was the “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” of the ‘50s!
Lovely Susan Strasberg is Millie, Kim Novak's "bookworm" kid sister in "Picnic." |
Cliff
Robertson does what he can with the role Alan, the rich, weak kid.
In the smaller
supporting roles, Nick Adams is cockily amusing as Bomber, the brash
neighborhood teen; Verna Felton is most endearing as the neighbor lady who’s
the first to befriend Hal; and Reta Shaw is salty as a fellow teacher. The entire
supporting cast is strong, but it’s the three leads that are a mixed bag.
The superb supporting cast of "Picnic" bring reality to this slice of life drama. |
Others
have noted that Inge, just as popular as Tennessee Williams in the ‘50s, with a
string of hits, isn’t as well remembered. Well, Williams went through a period
where he was considered passé, too. I’ve read that it’s perhaps that Inge’s
dialogue wasn’t as poetic and quotable. Still, William Inge did write plays
about real people and their problems, often small town people. Come Back, Little Sheba, Bus Stop, Picnic, The Dark at the Top
of the Stairs were huge hits. On film, he wrote screenplays for Splendor in the Grass and All Fall Down. Not too shabby!
Playwright William Inge & Director Joshua Logan surely loved this opening title! |
Director
Joshua Logan had an incredible string of musical, comedy, and dramatic
successes on Broadway. That’s probably why Logan was asked to recreate some of
those stage hits on film, as well as other blockbuster productions. That said, most
films I’ve seen directed by Joshua Logan all seem a bit off-kilter: Picnic, Sayonara, South Pacific, Camelot, and Paint Your Wagon. The man had mad stage credentials, but I don’t
think Logan was in film making on a regular basis to learn its intricacies. In Picnic, that’s apparent with the uneven lead
performances and the very intrusive music score.
Madge gets out of Dodge at the finale of 1955's "Picnic." |
Picnic
is one of those movies which are frequently labeled dated. Indeed a product of
its time, the drama is a snapshot of the repressed ‘50s. However, how much has
really changed in small towns since then? We are obviously less repressed and
are able to communicate through the internet and social media. Still, how many
people feel stuck and stifled in small towns, with dreams that don’t come true?
As someone who lives in rural Upper MI, I see it all the time. In that sense, Picnic is timeless.
My look at Kim Novak, teamed with Sinatra, in The Man with the Golden Arm: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-man-with-golden-arm-1955.html
And here’s my take on Rosalind Russell, in her
signature role as Auntie Mame: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/12/rozs-signature-role-auntie-mame-1958.html
FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB movie
page.
Check it out & join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/178488909366865/
The poster of "Picnic" promises more than it delivers--typical of the era! |
SPOILER ALERT: The final scene in the film, an overhead shot in which the train that Hal Carter (William Holden) has hopped onto is followed by a bus that Kim (Madge) has boarded so that she can follow her new-found love interest is one of the most cinematically beautiful endings I have ever seen. Yes, the film is dated, but it presents a slice of life in small town America in the 1950s where the annual Labor Day picnic where (it would seem) the entire population turned out to partake of the homespun charms of such an event. Yes, perhaps Holden wasn't the perfect actor to play the drifter who set local female hearts aflutter, as he had already begun to age noticeably even at the age of just 37, the alcohol consumption having taken a toll. But rather than dwell on the inevitable 'what ifs?,' let's view "Picnic" for what it is, a near-classic of the cinematic art that puts 90% of the films made 65 years later to shame in virtually every respect.
ReplyDeleteHi John, There's actually lots to like about Picnic, and I tried to take that into account. That final shot you mentioned, was photographed by then A.D. Haskell Wexler, who went on to become a great cinematographer. As someone who grew up in a small town, I still see a lot of relevance in Picnic, as I mention in my closing paragraph. But I also try to present the pros and cons of each film I review. Thanks for writing, Rick
DeleteExactly on each point
DeleteThanks! Rick
DeleteAnother great choice, Rick. I just happened to read your article on Labor Day, so perfect timing in the cosmos, I guess! You are spot-on when it comes to the film's pluses and minuses, and yet the film works--at least for me. I have always liked Picnic. Maybe because it shows how confounding and inexplicable attraction and love can be!
ReplyDeleteHi Marianne, The film works for me, too, really, despite the shortcomings.
DeleteThought it would be a good holiday choice!
Cheers, Rick
Picnic is one of those films I find it hard to be objective about. When I first saw it, back in the mists of time (1960's), it made an impression that's stayed with me. The romance, the longing, the loneliness, and, yes, the dance sequence, grabbed my heart and never let go. I watched it again for Labor Day and the magic is still there for me. But, I have to admit, what you said about the stifling atmosphere of small towns (like the one I grew up in) and the sadness of dreams unfulfilled, came through to me like never before during this re-watch. Great review, Rick!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Michael! I love it when people share their memories. Cheers, Rick
DeleteHi Rick - great essay on a fascinating and watchable but flawed film. I totally agree with all your assertions - Holden too old and dissipated, Russell way way over the top, Novak obviously ill at ease in her role. yet I love them all as actors and their charisma and talent do carry them through. The supporting actors are the real stars here, especially Susan Strasberg (why didn’t they let her play Anne Frank on screen after her big Broadway success? It might have made her an A List movie star!) and Betty Field (always great in everything, especially here, in Bus Stop and In Butterfield 8). In spite of all the flaws, the film does have atmosphere, and the “Moonglow” scene is haunting and romantic. I own the film and watch it at least once a year, usually around Labor Day!
ReplyDeleteHope all is well! Love your amazing blog!
- Chris
...I find "Picnic," too, despite the flaws! Good point on Susan Strasberg as Anne Frank for the film, a real head scratcher!
DeleteThanks for the kudos, and all is okay on this end, hope the same for you,
Rick
I loved this 1955 version of Picnic...I think the cast was perfect...my all time favorite film
ReplyDeleteI love the movie. The eternal mystery of human attraction...mother nature unleashed, always touches me. The flaws don't glare. They blend and the dance scene is one of the most romantic in film. Holden was too old? Maybe but it worked and loneliness still hsints small towns especially on labor day....which is the annual watch for me too
ReplyDeleteRIP Bill
William Inge wrote a number of classic plays that centered on small town life beautifully. This was perhaps Inge's best. Even Holden hesitated as he knew he was too old at 37 to play post college Hal, and his drinking made him look even older. But Bill Holden was a great, natural actor, so he gave the role authority. I enjoy the entire cast and the movie on a regular basis, too. Cheers, Rick
DeleteHolden's age doesn't bother me here, esp. with Cliff Robertson (no teenager) as his friend. You're right that Novak's limitations are part of what makes her work here. She knew what it was like to be known only as a pretty face and her unease fits the role. Roz is the one actor who does annoy me here--you're right that she needed someone to help her underplay the role. The supporting players are all terrific and Verna Felton really has an opportunity to shine. What makes the film stand out for me is the cinematography, which opens up the film and keeps it from being overwhelmed by the sometimes stagey dialogue---the cinema verite shots of an actual Labor Day community picnic, the grain elevator, the overhead of the bus' ride out of town, etc. The Copland-esque score also works here and adds to the mood.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shoutout to Verna Felton, who is wonderful here as the neighbor who takes a shine to Hal. And yes to the rest of your comments, Rick
DeleteI was actually looking for a review like yours. I don't remember the cast striking me as off when I first saw the film, but I think that's just because the way movie stars were made up for films is so completely different from real life -- even real life use of makeup. I tend to be more affected by the vocal performances of the actors than their physical movements or facial expressions, but that's also because I'm better at catching audio details than visual ones.
ReplyDeleteWhich is what kinda killed the film for me. You mentioned the intrusive score, and not only does it hamfistedly try to tell the viewer how to feel about too many scenes, whoever mixed the music into the soundtrack apparently waited until the dramatic tension had been ratcheted up to 11 before then going to blast level on the music. Like, just when I'm getting into the film.
Thoroughly appreciated your take, even the parts I don't usually pay attention to.
Thanks for your great comments! Rick
Delete