Peyton Place (1957)

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 | Gossip | Passion | New England

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:

Errors in geography: In an exterior towards the end of the film, a sign can be seen advertising the Camden Maine Rexall Drug Store which doubled for Peyton Place.

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:

Referenced in Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Genevieve

"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...