Peyton Place (1957)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

John Michael Hayes (screenplay)
Grace Metalious (novel)

Release Date:

3 March 1958 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Now all of it is on the screen!

Plot:

Allison MacKenzie looks back on life in the New England town where she grew up around the time of Pearl Harbor...

Plot Keywords:

Stepfather | Coming Of Age | Sexual | Trial | Passion

Awards:

Nominated for 9 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Lana Turner	...	Constance MacKenzie
Lee Philips	...	Michael Rossi
Lloyd Nolan	...	Dr. Swain
Arthur Kennedy	...	Lucas Cross
Russ Tamblyn	...	Norman Page
Terry Moore	...	Betty Anderson
Hope Lange	...	Selena Cross
Diane Varsi	...	Allison MacKenzie
David Nelson	...	Ted Carter
Barry Coe	...	Rodney Harrington
Betty Field	...	Nellie Cross
Mildred Dunnock	...	Miss Elsie Thornton
Leon Ames	...	Mr. Harrington
Lorne Greene	...	Prosecutor
Robert H. Harris	...	Seth Bushwell

Runtime:

157 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Canada:14A (video rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #18628) | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:T | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Belfast, Maine, USA

Company:

Jerry Wald Productions

Trivia:

Pat Hingle and Joan Crawford were both quoted as being interested in the leading roles.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Selena's lawyer informs her that the prosecutor in her murder trial is being sent from Portland. The prosecutor would in fact have been sent from Augusta, the State capitol. (Although the book was set in New Hampshire, the film is set in Maine.)

Quotes:

Mrs. Thornton: A person doesn't always get what she deserves. Remember it. If there's anything in life you want, go and get it. Don't wait for anybody to give it to you.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Get Smart: Satan Place (#1.9)" (1965)

Soundtrack:

The Washington Post

"There is always a fifth season of love… But only the wise or the lucky ones know where to find it…"

The story takes place in the late 1930s and begins as the High School's new principal, Michael Rossi (Lee Philips), arrives in town to assume his duties...

Constance MacKenzie (Lana Turner) is an attractive widow who owns a dress shop... She runs it efficiently but is an over-protective mother who removes all choices from her teenager daughter, Allison (Diane Varsi), including her selection of friends… Allison seems a strong candidate for rebellion once the opportunity arises…

Allison's best friend is Selena Cross (Hope Lange), who lives in a shack on the wrong side of town with her mother, Constance's housekeeper Betty Field, and her drunk stepfather, Lucas (Arthur Kennedy).

There is also Russ Tamblyn, "stuck" in a failure cycle emotionally, and socially; Barry Coy, the wild son of the town's richest businessman; Terry Moore, the high school flirt; David Nelson, the boyfriend of Selena Cross; and Doc Swain (Lloyd Nolan), the voice of logic... These are the most distinguished characters among a great collection of townspeople whose lives form a model of misunderstanding, scandal, and nasty secrets…

Mark Robson's drama draws nine Oscar nominations...