Drama,Romance
United States of America
Hal Carter, the drifter, is played by William Holden and Madge Owens, the beauty queen, is played by Kim Novak. The movie is set in a small town in Kansas in the 1950s. Hal is a former college football player who has fallen on hard times. He shows up at his friend Alan's house looking for a job and a place to stay. Alan is happy to see his old friend, but his father is not pleased with Hal's presence.
At the Labor Day picnic, Hal and Madge are immediately attracted to each other. They share a dance and a kiss, and Madge starts to question her relationship with Alan. Meanwhile, Hal's presence is causing tension in the town. The other men are jealous of his charm and confidence, while the women are drawn to him.
As the night goes on, tensions rise. Hal gets into a fight with some of the local boys and is forced to leave town. Madge is torn between her love for Hal and her loyalty to Alan. In the end, she chooses Alan, but it is clear that Hal has left a lasting impression on her.
The movie is a classic example of 1950s melodrama, with themes of love, class, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It was based on a play by William Inge and was directed by Joshua Logan. It won two Academy Awards, for Best Art Direction and Best Editing, and was nominated for six others, including Best Picture.
