Peyton Place

 

 

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The scandalous best-selling novel by Grace Metalious is brought to life in this somewhat watered-down 20th Century Fox production, although it was still considered shocking and controversial for the time. Filmed on location in Camden, Maine with some interiors at the studio, the movie has an authentic feel, particularly in comparison to previous pictures shot entirely on backlots. Lana Turner, whose career needed a shot in the arm, took on the role of Constance MacKenzie, a woman who hides her teenage daughter Allison's (Diane Varsi) illegitimacy, and strives to control the girl from making the same mistakes that she did. Although this is the main storyline, several others intertwine, exposing the underside and hypocrisy of small town life. Next in line is definitely the plight of Allison's best friend, Selena Cross (Hope Lange), whose poverty-stricken existence isn't even the half of what goes on in her luckless life. Her despicable stepfather Lucas Cross (Arthur Kennedy, who at this stage in his career masterfully portrayed drunken lowlifes), rapes her (which results in a pregnancy which Selena later miscarries), and her mother Nelly (Betty Field), who also happens to be the MacKenzie's maid, discovers this and commits suicide. Betty Anderson (Terry Moore) is the town "fast girl" whose romantic liaisons set the community's tongues wagging, while Constance tries to fight her attraction to high school principal Mike Rossi (Lee Phillips), again afraid of history repeating itself. Betty loves Rodney Harrington, son of the most prominent family in town, and the two manage to marry before he goes off to battle in WWII.

Allison finds innocent love with Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn), which sets off her mother's suspicions. Distraught over Constance's revelation over the truth regarding her father, Allison angrily leaves Peyton Place for New York. Rodney dies in the war, Norman finally comes into his own with the war service (the incestuous relationship with his domineering mother is hinted at, but never expanded upon). The tug of war waged between mother and daughter comes full circle as does everything else when Selena murders her stepfather in self-defense, goes on trial, and so in a sense, does Peyton Place. During the climatic courtroom sequence, the town's secrets and faults are exposed. The wonderfully wistful narration by Varsi adds an air of poignancy. Mildred Dunnock, Lloyd Nolan, Leon Ames and Lorne Green also have notable roles. Director Mark Robson would go on to direct the 1967 film version of "Valley Of The Dolls", while Peyton Place would inspire a sequel book and film, as well as a primetime soap opera from 1964 to 1967.

A box-office smash upon its release in 1957, more than partly due, no doubt to the scandal which immediately followed the 1958 Oscars for which Turner, Varsi, Lange, Kennedy and Tamblyn received nominations for their performances in the film. Lana Turner's mobster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, was stabbed by her teenage daughter, Cheryl Crane, during a violent argument in which he threatened to kill Turner, as well as her mother and daughter. (Turner is wearing jewellery given to her by the mob figure in some scenes). Lana's testimony at Cheryl's trial was seen as a direct parallel to her performance as Constance in the courtroom scene in the movie, and in later years, Crane revealed that her mother's husband prior to her involvement with Stompanato, Lex Barker, was molesting her, another coincidence that did not go unnoticed by Crane when she first saw the movie. Author Metalious reportedly based both books on her own hometown, and the characters of Allison and Selena were apparently based on herself.

Not as explicit as the novel or as films of today, Peyton Place nevertheless is an intriguing, dramatic and watchable movie that definitely captures an earlier time, and it remains an interesting example of how art can imitate life.

The DVD: Commentary by Russ Tamblyn and Terry Moore (recorded separately, alas, so no interaction), on the flip side, AMC Backstory documentary on the filming, theatrical and teaser trailers, as well as the Photoplay Awards.

1957's Peyton Place was based on the tawdry best seller by Grace Metalious that depicts the sorted lives of the residents of the titular small New England town. The film was quite controversial at the time as it contains frank talk about sex, an incestuous rape, a hinted at abortion and murder. The film helped paved the way for the abandoning of the Hollywood moral codes. Everyone in Peyton Place, it seems, has something to Hide. Constance MacKenzie (Lana Turner) is an uptight single mother to Allison MacKenzie (Diane Varsi). She is fearful of scandal and rebuffs the advances of new high school principle Michael Rossi (Lee Phillips). Constance is hiding a secret from Allison and after Allison is wrongful accused of swimming naked with Norman Page (Russ Tamblyn) she reveals that Allison was born illegitimately as her father was living with Constance but was married. Allison leaves Peyton Place to go to New York City. Allison's best friend Selena Cross (Hope Lange) lives in a shack with her drunken stepfather Lucas Cross (Arthur Kennedy). Lucas is abusive and beats Selena and eventually rapes and impregnates her. Confronted by Dr. Swain (Lloyd Nolan), Lucas leaves town. He eventually returns and tries to take advantage of her again and Selena kills him. This leads to trial where Allison returns to town to speak on her Selena's behalf. She avoids her mother and in a bitter meeting tells her of her feelings towards her. At the trial, Selena refuses to let Dr. Swain speak about the rape. Dr. Swain's conscious gets the best of him and in an impassioned statement on the stand he reveals Selena's secret and chides the townspeople for their gossiping ways that led Selena to this position. Selena is acquitted and Allison reunites with Constance. The film was a huge hit and ironically Ms. Turner was embroiled in her our murder trial when her fourteen daughter stabbed her mobster boyfriend to death. It spawned a sequel and a popular television series. The film garnered nine Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director (Mark Robson), Best Actress for Ms. Turner (her only nomination) and two Best Supporting Actor & Actress nomination for Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Tamblyn, Ms. Lange & Ms. Varsi. The film holds the ignominy of having the most nomination without a single win.

Lana Turner and a terrific cast make this toned down version of Grace Metalious's steamy, sensational novel a real potboiling delight! The music, the cinematography, everything...it all evokes a long ago time and place and here it is all beautifully preserved for posterity! Fans will also enjoy its sequel, RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE with luscious Carol Lynley and another good looking cast of youngsters and scenery-chewing veterans.

Unfortunately, this DVD has a few jumps and glitches which disrupt perfect viewing. The AMC Backstory documentary isn't all that informative, and you'd think they'd at least have edited out the commercial bumpers. The commentary track by Tamblyn and Moore is one of the most boring ever...nearly impossible to sit through. Neither actor offers much insight into the film they are watching, instead rattling off alot of their own movie credits and misinformation (ie. Dick Sargent was never in "that genie show," Ms. Moore). Who was producing this!?

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5.0 out of 5 stars The commentaries make this DVD a must-have
I already had a beautiful copy of this movie--the outrageously priced ($49.95) laserdisc set put out by Fox Home Video sometime in the 90s--but the selling point for me this time... Read more

Published on Mar 8 2004 by Jay Littner

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this DVD-Peyton Place the classic soap opera
Peyton Place is one of my favorite books and one of my favorite movies. The filming and score are beautiful. The scenery of coastal Maine is fantastic. Read more

Published on Mar 6 2004 by 10za

4.0 out of 5 stars THIS ONE HAS IT ALL - THE CLASSY/TRASHY 50s KITSCH CLASSIC
"Peyton Place" is the 50s big budget, widescreen precursor to all 60s television soap operas. It's teeming with adultery and bald faced lies set against the backdrop of a small... Read more

Published on Mar 3 2004 by Nix Pix

5.0 out of 5 stars Peyton Place: A Tale Of Passion, Scandal And Hypocrisy
The novel "Peyton Place", by Grace Metalious has over time become "infamous", for its frank depiction of sex in all its raw forms under the outwardly respectable facade of life in... Read more

Published on Feb 25 2004 by Simon Davis

4.0 out of 5 stars Rises above it's written source
This movie is worth watching just for the cinematography and musical score alone. William C. Mellor's opening sequence paints a picture of New England as a dreamy, wistful and... Read more

Published on Jan 8 2004 by Michael D. Lindsey

5.0 out of 5 stars Cant wait for the dvd of Peyton Place
I remeber reading my grandmothers copy of Peyton Place when I was about 15 and loved the book. But the movie I feel in love with, the scenery and the whole outlook of the movie... Read more

Published on Dec 23 2003 by ecurb

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent movie
They just don't make them like this any more! This is a great movie--shocking for its time (1957) but tame by today's standards. Read more

Published on Nov 12 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Chic Soaper
One of the most engaging soapers ever made, with Lana Turner as Constance MacKenzie, a woman with some skeletons in her closet, surrounded by an oppressive town society, so... Read more

Published on Mar 12 2003 by altera-a

4.0 out of 5 stars Where is Diane Varsi?
Diane Varsi played Alison, the main character in this adaptation of the Metalious novel. She was nominated for an Acadamy Award for this, her first film. Read more

Published on Nov 20 2002 by Daniel R. Duncan

3.0 out of 5 stars My cat is pouncing on the animated cactus cursor
I can't say a whole lot that is positive about this movie. The three stars I give it go exclusively to Hope Lange for her superbly done role as Selina - the only character here... Read more

Published on July 4 2002 by Mrs Baldwin

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