Picnic (1955 film)

Picnic is a 1955 American Technicolor romantic comedydrama film in Cinemascope, which was adapted for the screen by Daniel Taradash from William Inges 1953 Pulitzer Prizewinning play. Joshua Logan, director of the original Broadway stage production, also directed the film version, which stars William Holden and Kim Novak, with Rosalind Russell, Susan Strasberg and Cliff Robertson in a supporting roles. Picnic was nominated for six Academy Awards and won two.

Hal Carter William Holden is a former college football star, adrift and unemployed after army service and a failed Hollywood acting career. On Labor Day September 5, 1955, he arrives by freight train in a Kansas town to visit his fraternity friend, Alan Benson Cliff Robertson, the son of a wealthy grain elevator owner, Mr. Benson Raymond Bailey. Working for his breakfast by doing chores in the backyard of kindly Mrs. Potts Verna Felton, Hal presents?????? to Bomber Nick Adams, Madge Owens Kim Novak, her sister Millie Susan Strasberg, and her mother Betty Field. The later is hoping Madge will marry Alan, which would thus raise both Madge and herself into the towns highest, respectable social circles. Alan wants to marry Madge, but his father thinks she is beneath him. Madge, even when being Alan fianc, doesnt really love Alan and is weary of being liked only because she is pretty.Hal gets along wonderfully with almost everyone, and tries very hard to be accepted. Alan is very happy to see same old Hal, whom he takes to the familys sprawling grain elevator operations. He promises Hal a steady job as a wheat scooper though Hal has unrealistic expectations of becoming an executive, and is disappointed and invites Hal to swim and the towns Labor Day picnic. Hal is wary about going to the picnic, but Alan nudges him into it, saying Hals date for the picnic will be Madges bookish younger sister Millie Susan Strasberg, who is quickly drawn to Hals cheerful demeanor and charisma. On the way to the picnic Alan reassures Mrs. Owens that although Hal flunked out of college and lost his football scholarship because he did not study, there are no worries about him. The afternoon carries on very happily, until Hal starts talking about himself too much and Alan stops him with cutting remarks, everyone realizes Hal and Madge like each other. As the sun goes down, everyone wanders off. Millie draws a sketch of Hal and tells him she secretly writes poetry. Hals behavior towards her i

Source: Wikipedia