PICNIC

Middleclass white Americans in the 1950s never had it so good, but that doesn't mean they were happy, as William Holden's character, Hal, discovers when he turns up in a small Kansas town.  He's planning to look up an old college friend, Alan (Cliff Robertson), whose father is probably the richest guy in town and who may offer Hal a job.

One of the first people Hal happens to meet is 19-year old Madge (Kim Novak) who's the prettiest gal in town, and who just happens to be dating Alan (it's a small world).  But is she happy?  Not at all.  Turns out she doesn't love Alan and doesn't feel that she will fit into the country club set.  

She is also prone to complaining that people only like her because she's pretty.  Fair enough, except she doesn't seem to have much else to offer by way of personality or talents.  Unlike her younger sister Millie, say, who has just won a scholarship.  Needless to say Millie isn't happy either, because she envies Madge's easy way with boys.

Also renting a room in their house is middle-aged school teacher Rosemary (nicely played by Rosalind Russell) who's worried she'll never find a man to marry.  She is currently dating Howard but it's a passionless affair and he seems settled in his bachelor ways.

The film covers just 24 hours, from the morning when Hal arrives fresh off of a freight train, till the following morning when he hops onto another freight train leaving town.  The day he arrives is the Labor Day holiday, and the main action in the film is the Labor Day picnic which all of the town attends it seems.

Hal takes Millie to the picnic but it is inevitable that as the evening progresses and some alcohol is consumed he and Madge won't be able to hide the attraction they feel for each other, leading to a memorably sensual dance together.  It's the highlight of the film, beautifully shot by James Wong Howe.

This was the film that made Kim Novak a star.  She shows just about enough acting talent to go along with her looks, and the film itself was a big commercial and critical hit, being nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

It's an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize winning play, but frankly I don't get why either the play or the film were so successful.  

The drama, such as it is, centres on the relationship between Hal and Madge, leading her in the final scene to pack a suitcase and hop on a bus to take her to where Hal is going to look for a job.  But it's not a particularly interesting relationship, and indeed nothing in the film by way of characters or dialogue is that memorable.

It doesn't help that William Holden (an actor I like a lot) is miscast.  Although there are indications in the play that Hal is older than Madge, I can't believe that he's meant to be nearly twenty years older (Holden being 37 years old in 1955).  And I prefer him in cynical or world-weary roles (such as the ones he plays in 'Sunset Boulevard' or 'The Wild Bunch') rather than the wild and impulsive Hal.

Paul Newman was in the cast of the original Broadway production of the play (first playing Alan and then Hal) and it's a shame that contractual commitments prevented him from playing Hal in the film.

The romance, such as it is, between Rosemary and Howard has its moments, but all in all this is an entertaining enough picture which never ignites into anything special.

RATING: x Curb Your Enthusiasm