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Picnic

Play trailer Poster for Picnic PG 1955 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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45% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Charming Hal Carter (William Holden) turned to wandering after a failed acting career left him loose in the wind. Interested in reuniting with an old college friend, Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson), Carter bums a train ride to a tranquil Kansas town. Alan greets him warmly, and together they join the community in a picnic celebration of Labor Day. However, his welcome quickly sours when sparks ignite between him and Alan's girlfriend, Madge Owens (Kim Novak).
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Picnic

Critics Reviews

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Derek Prouse Sight & Sound If any integrity of intention was there at the beginning, it has somehow hopelessly miscarried. Mar 30, 2020 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Clunky and awkward, with inane dialogue, it's a movie to show how attitudes have changed. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand [William] Holden is years too old for the role but oozes sex appeal and makes a swoony stud when he takes his shirt off (or when, better yet, it’s ripped from his back... Jan 7, 2023 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Though the film sticks with few sets and characters, resembling its stage origins, it’s still effective as a theatrical relationship drama. Rated: 7/10 Sep 22, 2022 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews For its day, Picnic caught the mood of an uptight America in what goes for an edgy 1950s drama. Rated: B Jul 14, 2021 Full Review Andrew Sarris Film Culture All in all, Picnic is an interesting failure. It is always visually attractive even when it is artistically unfaithful to its theme. Feb 3, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mike W A very good movie with great acting. Novak was outstanding. Two caveats: the picnic itself was a little over the top, and Holden's early character was too dorky (Director's fault). Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/15/25 Full Review Terry L C Absolutely the best of the best!!!! They story line the greatest. How many feel like Hal Carter with no parental help, his only friend from college turns on him, and a young lady falls in love with him...the only person who feels he is more than everyone else thinks he is. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/09/25 Full Review Sebastyen D A lot of ripped shirts for no apparent reasons. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/24 Full Review Lanfranco C Rebel Without a Cause 2.0 Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/04/23 Full Review Blobbo X If take out RossalindRusell drunk make fool of self scenes and make William Powell or whatever his name is 20 years younger, movie not be bad. Novak is appealing as is Sue Strasberg. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/22/23 Full Review klr d Fairly risque for the 50s in American cinema. It's a solid and memorable melodrama that will stay with you. I'm surprised the consensus score isn't higher. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Picnic

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Movie Info

Synopsis Charming Hal Carter (William Holden) turned to wandering after a failed acting career left him loose in the wind. Interested in reuniting with an old college friend, Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson), Carter bums a train ride to a tranquil Kansas town. Alan greets him warmly, and together they join the community in a picnic celebration of Labor Day. However, his welcome quickly sours when sparks ignite between him and Alan's girlfriend, Madge Owens (Kim Novak).
Director
Joshua Logan
Producer
Fred Kohlmar
Screenwriter
William Inge, Daniel Taradash
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 10, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$24.0K
Runtime
1h 55m
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