Picnic was released on 7 December 1955.
Daniel Taradash adapted William Inge's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1953 play for the screen, with Joshua Logan (who had directed the Broadway stage production) directing.
Ralph Meeker had played the role of Hal on Broadway, but the studio cast William Holden before Logan was even hired. Logan was unhappy with Janice Rule's screen test (she had played Madge on stage) and cast 22-year-old Kim Novak. Paul Newman (who had made his Broadway debut in Picnic) was asked to reprise his role as Madge's boyfriend but was under contract and Cliff Robertson was cast.
Picnic was a commercial and critical success. It would go on to be nominated for 6 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Arthur O'Connell, who had played Howard Beavans in the Broadway production), and Best Score (George Duning). It received Oscars for Best Film Editing (William Lyon and Charles Nelson) and Best Art Direction - Color.
