When I saw "Peyton Place" recently on AMC for the first time, my thought was: "This is it? This is what drove the puritans into a foaming frenzy 42 years ago? There's more filth and dirt in the dumpster!" While it's true that the world has taken more than a few spins since 1957, and while it's true that the film tends to date a bit, "Peyton Place" is still, at it's best, top-notch entertainment.
Lana Turner, in what was, regrettably, her only Oscar-nomination, scores solidly as the pivotal character of Constance McKenzie. Diane Varsi, whose life and career would go out of control soon after (remember "Wild in the Streets?"), is equally compelling as Allyson McKenzie, her daughter. Arthur Kennedy lends his usual understated but powerful presence to the principal heavy of the piece, Lucas Cross, and the young Hope Lange, whom a later generation probably remembers best for TV's "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," gives a solid performance as Selena Cross, the girl with a secret from the wrong side of the tracks. Others in the notable cast include such reliable performers as Lloyd Nolan, Russ Tamblyn, Betty Field, and a two years pre - "Bonanza" Lorne Greene, all turning in fine performances.
If you can, see this film in letterbox, if only for the beautiful Camden, Maine, scenery, beautifully captured by William C. Mellor's cameras. And, if you don't think this film's been influential, look at all it's successors, including the only TV series ever to have been on three times a week during the '60's, and today's "Dawson's Creek" and "Melrose Place." Here's the film that started it all, though, and it's still solid entertainment, especially if you put yourself in a late-'50's mindset while watching it.
