Following Cronin’s, The Citadel, Vidor understands how central the picnic episode is for exploring how success and money distort the lives of Andrew and Elizabeth Manson.
Once idealistic, Dr. Andrew Manson has gone over to the dark side, considering money more important than honest medical care. After years of ethical medical practice in a small Welsh mining town, Andrew Manson’s luck changes in London. Now catering to wealthy Londoners, many of whom are hypochondriacs, Manson is as full of himself as his pockets are full of money.
Andrew proudly celebrates their new status by taking his wife Elizabeth picnicking. When Elizabeth admits she is unhappy about the change, “Do we want to be rich? What is all of this talk about money?” Andrew petulantly replies, “What’s wrong with all this?”
This argument ruins the picnic’s pleasantries. Andrew snaps shut the wicker, and they return home.
Eventually, Andrew does not sell out, understands his true mission as an MD, and does his best to meet to provide effective health care.
Featured Image: Robert Donat as Andrew Manson and Rosalind Russell as Elizabeth Manson
See King Vidor. The Citadel (1938). The screenplay by Ian Dalrymple, Frank Wead, Elizabeth Hill, and Emlyn Williams is based on A.J. Cronin’s novel (1937); A.J. Cronin. The Citadel. London: Gollancz, 1937. Miniseries were released in 1960 and 1983.