MovieChat Forums > Picnic Discussion > Romance? I Don't Think So

Romance? I Don't Think So

posted 18 years ago by Eponymous-too
10 replies | jump to latest

Let me preface this by saying that I liked this movie.

I watched this movie because it was on one of the AFI top 100 movies list. The one it was on was the Romance/Love list. Whoever decided it should be on that list either had not seen the movie in a long time or was fooling themselves.

There was not a bit of romance in the movie; it was about lust, pure and simple (actually, not so pure.) For 1955 this movie got away with a lot.

There were several scenes of Holden shirtless; many comments from the various women about how strapping, big, strong, handsome, etc. he was. Every woman obviously wanted him.

The older woman he first meets loved having a man around again. The mother immediately knows he is trouble for her daughters because of her own reaction to him. The younger sister is attracted to him despite the fact that she doesn't want to carry on with boys. She even gives up her vow to dress how she wants and puts on the expected flattering dress, hair, and no glasses. She gets hurt when he obviously prefers her "prettier" sister.

The teacher is so caught up by her "passion" (1950's euphemism for lust) for him that she rips his shirt off of him and then gets vindictive when he rejects her. Finally, the older sister is absolutely taken with him - to the point of having sex with him after only a few hours when she wouldn't let the other guy get that far after dating him for who knows how long (and even with her mother urging her give him a little sumthin' sumthin'.)

Yes, I realize that they didn't show them having sex, but they were as obvious as they could be about it for 1955. I'm sure audiences at the time knew what happened during those hours from when the characters were shown kissing to the time they showed up at her house.

She even runs off with him after knowing him for less than a day. It's lust for more nights like the one they just spent together, not the romantic life they are going to lead together in a hotel room in Tulsa that is driving her.

AFI should put this on a Top 100 sexiest films list, if they ever compile one.

"My name is Paikea Apirana, and I come from a long line of chiefs stretching all the way back to the Whale Rider."

[–] jgbook2007 18 years ago

...Speaking of things that did not speak their name in 1950s mainstream pictures , do you think that there were a few MALES who found Bill's beefcake fairly...Um , I can't think of a " B " word !!!!!!!!!!!

[–] JohnnyJohnson (400) a year ago

"Butt-worthy"? Yes, I would assume so. lol

[–] Billa1971 18 years ago

I agree w/you...and in an hypothetical list of sexiest movies this one would rank first...

Betty: Don't you sometimes hate yourself?
Joe: Constantly.

[–] LionHearted99 18 years ago

Hmmmmmmm....apparently "romance" does not include sex....

[–] BlondeIsBetter 17 years ago

I know what you mean. It is really an odd film. The message is kind of creepy. The way the mother urges her daughter to run off with this total loser. I mean, that is NOT the kind of man you run off with, or marry, no matter how good he looks with no shirt on...

This movie just leaves me with an uncomfortable creepy feeling, although I do like the film, and I love Kim Novak, and I love the song "It Must Have Been Moonglow"...

[–] Forlorn_Rage 16 years ago

It wasn't the mother, it was the sister.

Although I do agree with you somewhat. Although even if it was only for a day, the chemistry between Novak and Holden was so believable, the time doesn't seem to matter at all, but I still wish they extended the timeframe to avoid that ridiculous Romeo/Juliet plotline.

[–] cableye 16 years ago

I always wondered what happened after the big romantic ending. Did the pretty small town girl regret her decision? Did the wild and handsome Hal run away again? It seemed as if everyone in that town valued good looks over everything else--brains, money, even security. Kim Novak's character was treated literally like a queen because of her beauty. Hal shook up a whole town in a matter of hours due to his looks.

[–] Jason_Radley 13 years ago

No, the mother suggests to Madge that she put out a little more in order to entrap Alan Benson. Now that was a little creepy.

[–] SeisCinemaSeis 16 years ago

For 50's audience this movie might look quite romantic and dramatic but nowadays it plays almost like a farcical comedy. Involuntary comedy, of course.
The fact is that unlike Casablanca, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and more timeless romance classics, Picnic haven't aged well, feels outdated, even kinda ludicrous.

6/10

[–] PlatinumScreen 13 years ago

The fact is that unlike Casablanca, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and more timeless romance classics, Picnic haven't aged well, feels outdated, even kinda ludicrous.

SeisCinema, I completely agree with you. Picnic wasn't what I thought it would be, and my mom has been after me for years to watch it. I normally love William Holden, but not in this. By far at the bottom of his roles for me.