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 | Scandal | Village | High School | Principal

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
Tami Conner	...	Margie
Staats Cotsworth	...	Charles Partridge
Peg Hillias	...	Marion Partridge
Erin O'Brien-Moore	...	Mrs. Evelyn Page
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Adler	...	Jury foreman (uncredited)
Jim Brandt	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Harry Carter	...	Court Clerk (uncredited)
Edith Clair	...	Miss Colton (uncredited)
John Doucette	...	Army sergeant (uncredited)
Tom Greenway	...	Judge (uncredited)
Edwin Jerome	...	Cory Hyde (uncredited)
Kip King	...	Pee Wee (uncredited)
Mike Lally	...	Bailiff (uncredited)
Bill Lundmark	...	Paul Cross (uncredited)
Ray Montgomery	...	Naval officer (uncredited)
Scotty Morrow	...	Joseph 'Joey' Cross (uncredited)
Audrey Preisendorf	...	Extra (Parade) (uncredited)
Vernon Preisendorf	...	Extra (Parade) (uncredited)
Alan Reed	...	Matt (uncredited)
Steffi Sidney	...	Kathy (uncredited)
Alfred Tonkel	...	Bailiff (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Robson

Writing credits
John Michael Hayes		(screenplay)
Grace Metalious		(novel)

Produced by
Jerry Wald	....	producer

Original Music by
Franz Waxman

Cinematography by
William C. Mellor		(as William Mellor)

Film Editing by
David Bretherton

Art Direction by
Jack Martin Smith
Lyle R. Wheeler

Set Decoration by
Bertram C. Granger		(as Bertram Granger)
Walter M. Scott

Costume Design by
Adele Palmer

Makeup Department
Ben Nye	....	makeup artist
Helen Turpin	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hal Herman	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Frank Moran	....	sound
E. Clayton Ward	....	sound

Special Effects by
L.B. Abbott	....	special photographic effects

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Le Maire	....	executive wardrobe designer (as Charles LeMaire)

Editorial Department
Leonard Doss	....	color consultant

Music Department
Edward B. Powell	....	orchestrator
Arthur Grinnell	....	musicians coordinator: marching band (uncredited)

Other crew
Curtis Harrington	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jerry Wald Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1970) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• Fox Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Fox Video (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• ClassicLine (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (1958) (France) (theatrical)
• Centfox (1958) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

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:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Mr. Rossi introduces Miss Thornton at the senior prom, the audience is heard applauding a moment before they are actually seen applauding.

Quotes:

Mr. Harrington: This job starts at 3,000 a year.
Michael Rossi: Then we're all wasting our time. That's only $5 a week more than I was making as a teacher, Mr. Harrington
Mr. Harrington: But this offers you security -- a long term contract.
Michael Rossi: Guaranteed poverty is not security.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in L'important c'est d'aimer (1975)

Soundtrack:

Chattanooga Choo Choo

The mother of all soap-operas

Based on the bestselling novel by Grace Metalious, Peyton Place is a solid melodrama all about the secrets and scandals of a small New England town. John Michael Hayes did a fine job of adapting the book, tightening the plot and losing most of the cynicism, though it can be argued that the book's feminist slant was lost in the process as well. Mark Robson's direction is the model of craftsmanship; the film is slick entertainment that moves along smoothly and assuredly. And what a cast! Lana Turner justly earned an Academy Award nomination for her work her (sadly, her only nomination); obviously identifying with elements of the role, she delivers her most even keeled performance. She also has terrific chemistry with Diane Varsi, playing her daughter. Other great performances are provided by Hope Lange, Russ Tamblyn, Terry Moore, and Lloyd Nolan. Peyton Place is more than just an artifact of the 1950s; it's been highly influential, and if you don't believe me, just take a look at Dawson's Creek.