Picnic

I saw this recently on our local PBS station for the first time. Somehow the Cinemacope picture brought me “into” the film. Strangely dated, but charming at the same time. William Holden was really to old for the role, but the way he “becomes” his character comes off as appropriate and believable. That beautiful color and the gorgeous cinematography takes you into a different time and world. It felt like To Kill A Mockingbird” at times and that dance number between Holden and Novak was spectacular and I have never seen anything to equal it. Younger viewers probably won’t relate to this picture, there is no CGI or action, just loads of charm. Sometimes taking a chance out a movie can be very rewarding, and I’m glad I took a chance on this one.

When William Holden and Kim Novak slow dance together at the picnic, with colorful chinese lanterns hanging above and around them, and the music is Moonglow with the PICNIC love theme layered on top of Moonglow, it's worth the price of admission. So beautiful. I love this film. It's a wonderful snapshot of small-town Americana c1950's and a story packed with emotion.

I'm 29 and this movie is our family's labor day tradition since it was on the silver screen! every year after our own picnic we watch picnic!

Picnic is one of the great uniquely American movies. Hal Carter (William Holden) is a thirtysomething drifter who hops a freight to a small Kansas town, where he hopres to get work from a wealthy friend from his college days. Though he has never achieved anything since the days of his college football career, he is full of bluster that barely disquises the desperation within. There he meets Madge (Kim Novak), the most beautiful girl in town, who is, unfortunately, only appreciated for being beautiful. Somehow these two lonely people find something special within each other when Hal is invited to accompany Madge's family to the town's annual Labor Day Picnic. We can feel their attraction in what is probably the sexiest dance sequence in filmdom. Unfortunately, Madge is being courted by Hal's old college friend, whom Madege's mother , left by her own husband,wants her to marry while she is still young and beautiful. Rosalind Russell has a wonderful supporting role as a no-longer-young schoolteacher who is facing the possibility of being alone for the rest of her life. This film is wonderful. Forget Ebert.

The original Jerry Maguire..."You complete me"... only set in Hollywoods' black and white' days...This was taboo stuff then . If I remember, Peyton Place came after this one... But of course it's tame (Ta.maTOe) now compared to some of the real "exposures " out there .