Hal Carter is a former college football star, adrift and unemployed after army service and a failed acting career in Hollywood. On Labor Day (September 5, 1955), he arrives by freight train in a Kansas town to visit his fraternity friend Alan Benson. Working for his breakfast by doing chores in the backyard of kindly Mrs. Potts, Hal meets Madge Owens, her sister Millie , and their mother. Hal tries to be accepted and gets along with most. Alan is very happy to see the "same old Hal", whom he takes to his family's sprawling grain elevator operations. Alan promises Hal a steady job as a "wheat scooper" (though Hal had unrealistic expectations of becoming an executive) and invites Hal to swim and to attend the town's Labor Day picnic. Hal is wary about going to the picnic, but Alan nudges him into it, saying Hal's "date" will be Millie, who is quickly drawn to Hal's cheerful demeanor and charisma. Alan reassures Mrs. Owens that although Hal flunked out of college, there are no reasons to be concerned about him. The afternoon carries on happily, until Hal starts talking about himself too much, and Alan stops him with cutting remarks. It's obvious that Hal and Madge like each other. When the sun sets, everyone wanders off. Millie draws a sketch of Hal and tells him she secretly writes poetry, growing fond of him despite his lack of interest. Madge is named the town's annual Queen of Neewollah ("Halloween" spelled backward), and Hal longingly gazes at her while she is brought down the river in a swan-shaped paddle-boat. They shyly say "Hi" to each other as she glides by.....
Directed by Joshua Logan
Screenplay by Daniel Taradash
Based on Picnic
1953 play
by William Inge
Produced by Fred Kohlmar
Starring William Holden
Kim Novak
Betty Field
Rosalind Russell
Cinematography James Wong Howe
Edited by William A. Lyon
Charles Nelson
Music by George Duning
William Holden as Hal Carter
Kim Novak as Marjorie 'Madge' Owens
Rosalind Russell as Rosemary Sydney
Betty Field as Flo Owens
Susan Strasberg as Millie Owens
Cliff Robertson as Alan Benson
Arthur O'Connell as Howard Bevans
Verna Felton as Helen Potts
Reta Shaw as Irma Kronkite
Raymond Bailey as Mr. Benson
Nick Adams as Bomber
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