IMDb > Picnic (1955)
Picnic
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Picnic (1955) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   3,019 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 33% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Joshua Logan
Writers:
Daniel Taradash (screenplay)
William Inge (play)
Contact:
View company contact information for Picnic on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
16 February 1956 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Electrically attracted to each other...Overwhelmingly engulfed by it...Guiltily in love! more
Plot:
Emotions are ignited amongst the complacent townsfolk when a handsome drifter arrives in a small Kansas community on the morning of the Labour Day picnic. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 10 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
William Inge's Picnic Opens Triad Stage's Ninth Season, Runs September 6-27
 (From BroadwayWorld.com. 19 August 2009, 5:08 AM, PDT)
Ask the Flying Monkey! (May 27, 2009)
 (From AfterElton.com. 26 May 2009, 5:16 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Really and truly one of the best! more (87 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

William Holden ... Hal Carter

Kim Novak ... Marjorie 'Madge' Owens
Betty Field ... Flo Owens
Susan Strasberg ... Millie Owens

Cliff Robertson ... Alan Benson
Arthur O'Connell ... Howard Bevans
Verna Felton ... Helen Potts
Reta Shaw ... Irma Kronkite
Nick Adams ... Bomber
Raymond Bailey ... Mr. Benson
Elizabeth Wilson ... Christine Schoenwalder (as Elizabeth W. Wilson)

Rosalind Russell ... Rosemary Sidney
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Warren Frederick Adams ... Stranger (uncredited)
Carle E. Baker ... Grain Elevator Worker (uncredited)
George E. Bemis ... Neighbor (uncredited)
Steve Benton ... Policeman (uncredited)
Harold A. Beyer ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Paul R. Cochran ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Adlai Zeph Fisher ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Don C. Harvey ... Policeman (uncredited)
Flomanita Jackson ... Committeewoman (uncredited)
Shirley Knight ... Bit part (uncredited)
Phyllis Newman ... Juanita Badger - Cool Girl (uncredited)
Henry Pagueo ... Mayor (uncredited)
Harry Sherman Schall ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Floyd Steinbeck ... Chamber of Commerce Member (uncredited)
Wayne R. Sullivan ... Foreman (uncredited)
Henry P. Watson ... Chamber of Commerce President (uncredited)
Abraham Weinlood ... Trainman - Before Opening Credits (uncredited)
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Directed by
Joshua Logan 
 
Writing credits
Daniel Taradash (screenplay)

William Inge (play "Picnic")

Produced by
Fred Kohlmar .... producer
 
Original Music by
George Duning 
 
Cinematography by
James Wong Howe 
 
Film Editing by
William A. Lyon 
Charles Nelson 
 
Production Design by
Jo Mielziner 
 
Art Direction by
William Flannery 
 
Set Decoration by
Robert Priestley 
 
Costume Design by
Jean Louis (gowns)
 
Makeup Department
Clay Campbell .... makeup artist
Helen Hunt .... hair stylist
Robert J. Schiffer .... makeup artist (uncredited)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter De Haven Jr. .... assistant director (as Carter DeHaven Jr.)
 
Sound Department
George Cooper .... sound
John P. Livadary .... recording supervisor (as John Livadary)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Cory .... photographer: second unit
 
Editorial Department
Ralph James Hall .... assistant editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Edgar De Lange .... composer: song "Moonglow" (as Eddie De Lange)
Chet Forrest .... composer: song "It's A Blue World"
Will Hudson .... composer: song "Moonglow"
Fred Karger .... music advisor
Irving Mills .... composer: song "Moonglow"
Arthur Morton .... orchestrator
Morris Stoloff .... conductor
Bob Wright .... composer: song "It's A Blue World"
Milton Ager .... composer: song (uncredited)
Annie Fortescue Harrison .... composer: song (uncredited)
J.L. Molloy .... composer: song (uncredited)
Bob Thompson .... music arranger (uncredited)
Jack Yellen .... composer: song (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Henri Jaffa .... technicolor color consultant
Miriam Nelson .... choreographer (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
115 min | USA:113 min (DVD version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.55 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)
Certification:
UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (1990) | West Germany:12 | France:U | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15
Filming Locations:
Burbank Studios, California, USA more
Company:
Columbia Pictures Corporation more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Insisting on authenticity, director Joshua Logan filmed in several Kansas towns, including Hutchinson, only 75 miles from Udall, a town leveled by a tornado days after filming began. "It's gotta look like Kansas and it will if I have to kill every last one of ya!," the volatile Logan yelled at his cast. William Holden suffered a leg gash on a railroad signal light, Kim Novak was stung on the hip by a bee underneath her $500 Jean Louis gown, and Rosalind Russell was "bruised from earlobe to toenail during a wild gambol across a suspension bridge." A local 70-year-old "spinster" saw her film debut canceled when she broke both legs and several ribs during a fall down an embankment. Filming was interrupted almost daily by hailstorms and "wailing" tornado warnings. The actual picnic was on a muddy fairground at Halstead, Kansas. Cast and crew were "half-consumed" by "carnivorous" bugs. Phone calls had to be made from old-time crank telephones at Halstead's Baker Hotel. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the picnic, as Hal takes the bottle from Howard, the neck is visible, but when the bottle is in Hal's hand, the neck is not visible. more
Quotes:
Rosemary Sidney: [Giddily to her schoolteacher friends just prior to eloping] So long, girls! You know what you can tell the principal for me! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Quantum Leap: Good Night, Dear Heart - November 9, 1957 (#2.17)" (1990) more

FAQ

What book was Millie reading? Is it a real book?
How does the movie end?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
14 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
Really and truly one of the best!, 27 February 2002
Author: Elizabeth (endofroad2@aol.com) from NY

I think "Picnic" is a movie that's been forgotten in recent years. But I consider it one of the greatest movies ever made! William Holden and Kim Novak are magnificent as small town lovers who face many complications because of his drifter background and her wealthy and important boyfriend. Besides the passionate story, it also features an unforgettable score. "Picnic" is a classic that should not, under any circumstances, be forgotten! See this movie! I give it an enthusiastic 10 out of 10!

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (87 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Picnic (1955)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
What book was Millie reading? kerprice
Teaching Femine Hygiene???? romi428
Notes on PICNIC JSlack3
I would kill for this on blu-ray crankymisfit
Rosalind Russel's Character stance628
Soundtrack for Picnic not available! Why? denver46
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