Hit Me With Your Best Shot: Picnic

The "Best" Shot where our romantic leads are so dizzy
hot for each other you think they're going to just suddenly
fall into the cool waters

Picnic poses the question: where have all the real men gone? The answer: not to Kansas. Before I started watching this week’s The Film Experience’s entry for HMWYBS, for some reason, I thought I was going to be treated to Peyton Place. Part of the confusion was that I haven’t seen both of the classic 1950s films which start with a “P.” My exposure to melodrama is secondhand (Far From Heaven), so I was excited about sitting through this film about two sisters gifted differently, one in beauty (“Her name is Madge”) and the younger Millie in brains. The film introduces their sibling distinctions with Kim Novak drying her enviable hair from the second story, with drops of water landing on her sister’s book below (Susan-yes-that-Strasberg). In this movie, as with most, looks will trump smarts. Their mother, Flo (Betty Field), who has been giving Millie all of the extra attention, now fears Madge will end up a lonely single mother like she. 

Veronica's into his act, no doubt

The William Inge story is also about mid-aged souls struggling with the reality of their lives. As Rosemary, Rosalind Russell kicks her legs in the air and slathers cream on her face, popping out of windows like a sit-com character (in the remake, she *must* be played by Allison Janney).  The 40-something spinster is getting up there in years and first plays off needing a husband, which is why Russell’s dramatic range comes in handy when we learn that she’s fronting. When amiable and virile drifter Hal (William Holden) ambles into town and takes off his shirt, all Hell breaks loose (and, thankfully, his tan, shaved torso is featured A LOT--it almost becomes a second character). The meaty, misunderstood pinball rolls around not knowing what to do with his life or how to make good choices. At the annual crowning of the Queen of Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards), Madge accepts her honor to “Ain’t She Sweet” (Novak isn’t on record as to objecting to the reuse of the 1920s Yellen and Ager hit song like she does a portion of the recent The Artist’s score utilizing strains of Vertigo, but everyone has their blindspots), before finally giving into her desires to beefcake Hal along a river in Halstead.

In the best scene in the film, they begin to dance in simpatico. I can't say that Novak ever stood out for me and, in this movie, she doesn't until she watches Holden move and her passion begins to rise quickly passed a simmer.  Madge finally relents to her desire and admit to herself that she knows exactly what she wants and the feeling is mutual.  The saunter in closer together and meet.  After a slight pause, they move together.  And, then another.  "Are we doing this?" they both think.  They certainly are and do.  There is so much heat between them, that at one point at the end of the dock, you almost believe they’ll tip into the water in a daze just to cool off, as the nudge its direction.  They don’t.  No, they move in even closer.  You can't stop a moving train.  

Are we doing this?

The moon and a little booze pull out the fight in Rosemary, who wants in on the action. The movie comes to a head when the drunken school marm literally tears into the hunky Hal. She can’t have what she so desperately wants, so she takes everyone down with her. The incident attracts unwanted attention including Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson--or, er, Uncle Ben from the first three Spider-Man movies--who was quite a looker in his day), Madge’s boyfriend and one of Hal’s old friends who just gave him a job. William Holden runs off in his ripped shirt exposing his bronzed, hunky body, the kind of body Madge wished was usually under Alan’s shirt. This is the point of the movie where the musical score gives every moment a glorious exclamation point!

I believe we are

Hal and Madge lose themselves in each other to escape their troubles, which results in a stolen car and a chase scene. Hal’s escape includes a trip through a grain mill. William Holden does not turn into Sandman (yes, I just watched the first three Spider-Man movies recently, be quiet), but he does get away Fugitive style. The ending is bittersweet. Happiness is never guaranteed, and whatever mistakes we make, we must ensure are our own and we must be willing to make, otherwise, what is a life that consists of no choices ever being made? Or, er, something like that.

One thing I love about the old code at the time this movie was made was the way filmmakers tried to dodge it and there are several moments where they skirt the censors; as well, The Wizard of Oz references, including the shot of Hal’s boots after seeing a dog that could pass for Toto’s cousin (okay, maybe not, but humor me), are a delight. There is something American about the picnic in Picnic that makes Nat’s choice this week of the 4th of July so novel. Food, games, relaxing, singing, crying babies, and contests galore like balloon blowing, three-legged race, and pie-eating. There is a sense of community that stands in stark contrast to Rosemary’s boyfriend Howard bragging about his 21-inch TV.

Previous HMWYBS:
Picnic
The Story of Adele H.

Possessed

Edward Scissorhands

The Exorcist

Pariah
Raise the Red Lantern

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

The Circus