Picnic (1955)

Nominated for 6 Academy Awards:

Best Picture

Best Director: Joshua Logan

Best Supporting Actor: Arthur O'Connell

Best Editing (WON)

Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color (WON)

 

I could say Picnic was a disappointment, but you could tell from the very beginning it had a big problem with the casting. Or two big problems: Kim Novak is just bad and very unconvincing, while William Holden is terribly cast in a role meant for a much younger guy. He probably should’ve been around his late 20s, but Holden was in his late 30s, looking like he’s in his 40s. So, it’s automatically tricky to follow the film when the casting is so uninspired. I can only imagine what Brando, who turned down the role, would’ve done with it.

The film takes place in about 24 hours, and the concept is nice, with a stranger dropping into town to shake things up, but it turns boring quite quickly around the middle, the love story is random, some of the supporting characters are cliches. O’Connell, nominated for an Oscar, is good but not remarkable. Rosalind Russell refused to be campaigned as a supporting actress, and had she accepted, she probably would’ve been nominated. There are some good technical parts, but the film’s not memorable.

 

I give it: 5.5/10

IMDB LINK