I wasn't terribly impressed with this film. It is pure melodrama wrapped in a soap opera.
There are several things I don't quite get about this film. First of all how could they cast a 37 year old William Holden in the male lead as a not-so-long out of college boy. And to put Kim Novak as his love interest who was only 21 at the time. Not only was Holden miscast, but I have also never understood all the adoration given Kim NOvak, First of all, she really is not all that attractive, but rather ordinary looking. In here, she actually looks a little overweight. And I have never been impressed with her acting skills. She always comes across as sullen and sulking.
I did find the Kansas location shooting interesting and loved the glimpse it gave into life in the 50's. I especially liked the scenes from the picnic at the fairgrounds - with all the classic races (3-legged races, "carry the girl", "throw the rolling pin") - what a hoot. There were plenty of cute, fat baby shots, kids laughing and playing, pie eating contests, music at the band stand and of course the crowning of the "Neewollah Queen" (Halloween spelled backwards). I will have to say that I found it a little creepy when all the spectators were chanting and bowing to her - it looked like a cult gathering.
Another thing I didn't get was all the publicity around the "Moonglow dance sequence". I had to go back through the movie again to even pick it out - because it didn't even stand out to me the first time. It really was nothing special. Except for the fact that apparently Holden had to get knee-walking drunk to even play the scene since he couldn't dance. And then he demanded an extra $8000 for stuntman premium.
So if you want to see a glimpse into 1950's American life in the Mid-west - but with an extreme dose of melodrama - then by all means, take a "Picnic".
There are several things I don't quite get about this film. First of all how could they cast a 37 year old William Holden in the male lead as a not-so-long out of college boy. And to put Kim Novak as his love interest who was only 21 at the time. Not only was Holden miscast, but I have also never understood all the adoration given Kim NOvak, First of all, she really is not all that attractive, but rather ordinary looking. In here, she actually looks a little overweight. And I have never been impressed with her acting skills. She always comes across as sullen and sulking.
I did find the Kansas location shooting interesting and loved the glimpse it gave into life in the 50's. I especially liked the scenes from the picnic at the fairgrounds - with all the classic races (3-legged races, "carry the girl", "throw the rolling pin") - what a hoot. There were plenty of cute, fat baby shots, kids laughing and playing, pie eating contests, music at the band stand and of course the crowning of the "Neewollah Queen" (Halloween spelled backwards). I will have to say that I found it a little creepy when all the spectators were chanting and bowing to her - it looked like a cult gathering.
Another thing I didn't get was all the publicity around the "Moonglow dance sequence". I had to go back through the movie again to even pick it out - because it didn't even stand out to me the first time. It really was nothing special. Except for the fact that apparently Holden had to get knee-walking drunk to even play the scene since he couldn't dance. And then he demanded an extra $8000 for stuntman premium.
So if you want to see a glimpse into 1950's American life in the Mid-west - but with an extreme dose of melodrama - then by all means, take a "Picnic".