Movie Review: ****^ Picnic (1955)

 This is a very good movie where passion wins out over what would make sense financially.  Madge Owens (Kim Novak) has a boy, Alan Benson (Cliff Robertson) who has claimed her as she is the most beautiful girl in town.  However she is not satisfied being a thing instead of a person.  When Hal Carter (William Holden) comes to town things change.  He is a transient and down on his luck, but knows Benson from college and hopes to get a job.  It is also the day of the Labor Day  picnic.  Carter goes to the picnic with Madge's younger sister, Millie (Susan Strasburg).  She is obviously young for him but Madge is with Benson.  Madge's mother (Betty Field) does what she can to keep her daughter with Benson; but before the night is over, Madge leaves with Carter.  A school teacher (Rosalind Russell) rents a room from the mother.  She has a long term boy friend (Arthur O'Connell) who does not commit.  After she has drunk some she makes a pass at Carter who rejects her.  She rips his shirt.  The evening turns out well for her as her boyfriend finally proposes marriage.  Shortly after his shirt is ripped, Carter and Madge take off in Benson's car which Carter had been using all night.  He returns the car in the morning, and the police want to arrest him for stealing the car, he runs and has to leave town, but not before seeing Madge.  He confesses his love, as does she.  He runs and catches the train.  Benson calls to say he forgives Madge; but Madge decides to follow Carter, taking the bus.  

The actors do very well at their rolls.  This is a movie based on a stage play of the same name written by William Inge.  A couple musicals were written based on the same play, but were not successful.

Movie: ****The Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957)

This is one o those stories where sometimes the means don't justify the end.  In order to build morale of their men, the officers at a prisoner of war camp run by the Japanese with Allied prisoners, determine that they should participate in the forced labor required by the Japanese, but not only participate but do a good job.
At the same time, the Allies send a team to blow up the bridge being built by the prisoners.  In the end, these decisions pit Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) against Shears (William Holden) one of the Allies who has come to blow up the bridge.  When Nicholson discovers the plot, he informs the Japanese, but then realizes his mistake.  "What have I done?  What have I done? he exclaims, as he depresses the plunger to blow up the bridge.  Classic scene.

Movie Review: ****Sabrina (1954)

This is a beautiful story.  The chauffer’s daughter (Audrey Hepburn) has been in love with the younger brother David (William Holden) of the rich employer's family since she was a child.  However he is a player.  So she goes to Paris to get away from the drama, and comes home a beautiful blossomed woman.  However the brother is now engaged, and this is a marriage to convenience to forge a partnership between two families and two companies.  However, as he is a player, he spies Sabrina for the first time, and wants to leave the arranged marriage behind and go with her.  Older brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart) manages to take his place for a few days, while younger brother recuperates from an injury.  His initial goal is to send her back to Paris.  Slowing the affections change their loyalty.  But the older brother has always been the brother who has been responsible, and would never do anything to upset the family.
As I said a beautiful story, and Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogurt carry their parts well.  The difference in age is something they have to overcome as part of the story, and so does not get in the way of the story.

Movie Review: ***^ Sunset Boulevard (1950)

This is not the musical version of Andrew Lloyd Webber, but is the source material for the musical.  This is the original black and white 1950 film, which tells the story of a deluded silent-film star, Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) and the man who comes to live with her, Joe Gillis (William Holden).  This movie is unusual, because it tells the story of the murder of the leading character, with the leading character providing the narration.  It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and won three.  However more recently it has also been nominated for a "rotten tomato."
This movie is fascinating because it shows the inner cultural of Hollywood from a couple different angles.  The first angle is that of down-on-his luck writer.  He is avoiding the men from the bank who have come to repossess his car as he is three months behind on his payments.  The second angle is that of a famous actress, who is no longer desired, but she is still full of her own importance, and going to make a comeback.   At one point she travels to Universal Studio to talk with Ceil B. Demille. He plays himself.  We see her respected for her past, but her present and future do not look good.  She commits murder when confronted with this reality.  However in her deluded state she maintains her balance, and thinks the reporters have come for her comeback, not her murder.  "All right Mr. Demille, I'm ready for my close-up" is her concluding line.