Picnic film: Encyclopedia II - Picnic film - Criticism

Picnic film - Criticism

The film was later dissmissed or mildly panned in retrospective reviews written during the 1970s and 80s. But by the end of the 20th century, spurred by releases in its original aspect ratio on Laserdisc and DVD, later-day critics were praising Picnic's resonant portrayal of small-town life in the US during the Eisenhower era. With its fine soundtrack and strong performances by all the supporting cast, notably those of a young Susan Strasberg, who is said to carry the many scenes she appears in, and Arthur O'Connell, who's small town merchant, and "pressured" middle-age bridegroom role, defined "the aging bachelor" for all time.

However, the performances of both Holden and Novak are not considered among the best of their careers, though in fairness, the problem was more about age, in Holden's case than his character's personality. Holden was 37 when filming began. Wary about attempting to play someone in his mid-to late twenties, wooing a girl half his actual age, he had to be convinced to take the role. Audiences didn't seem to mind his older look at the time, which appeared to be about 10 years older than the girl. In actuality he was " almost twice as old ". Fifty years later, public attitudes have changed regarding 37 year olds courting 19 year olds. To 21st century eyes, Holden is doing something almost socially offensive. Modern audiences won't buy his strained attempt to seem to be the 28 year old that the role calls for. He looks at least 33 in the film to the modern viewer. while Novak is lately criticized as being "too passive" in the role, a "less than brilliant" 19 year old girl might in reality,express exactly that. Mid 20th century audiences would willingly suspend dis-belief, allowing Hal to be the required 28 years of age... Today's audiences, far less so. Much of Picnic's lasting appeal,no longer resides with the romantic leads , but seems now to derive from its uniformly strong secondary cast, with well drawn characters and subplots. The authentic location settings in central Kansas, and the documentary sense of real life in 1955 small town America. The frame house neighborhoods, the cars, & the picnic crowds, come off as a truly wonderful time capsule.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Criticism", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki