I watch "Picnic" every Labor Day. Despite its uneven qualitites (the dialog between the young people in the first part of the film) it is an endearing piece of Americana for me. Hobo William Holden comes to town to see his old college friend, rich Cliff Roberston, whose family owns most of the grain business in the Kansas town. Boberstson's girl is Kim Novack and Holden is smitten. Other sub- plots involve the mysterious background of the embittered mother of Novack, the intellectual but tomboyishness of Novack's sister, and the sexual frustrations of spinster schoolteacher Rosalin Russel (who should have won a supporting actress Oscar except that she refused to be classified as such)). Contains a nifty dance sequence by Holden and Novack, all the more fun because Holden couldn't dance (he demanded and got an extra $8000 for this "stunt" sequence and was intoxicated whiile he performed). A great nostalgic film.
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Topic - "Picnic" - rico 10:43:18 09/05/06 (1)
- One of my absolute favorite films!....the dance number between Holden and Novack... - TWB 11:55:11 09/05/06 (0)