I read Grace Metalious's book which she admitted was a "hurry up" book aimed at getting as much as she could past the contemporary arbiters of public morality. I thought the movie was surprisingly good, thanks to a great cast, direction and cinematography. It could have been a great film, had not Lee Philips been cast as Mike Rossi. Philips could not help that he was not Italian and all that brings to mind. But he always seemed more like a Wasp, which he almost played like a wimp. I'm surprised the Director/Producers did not go for someone like Victor Mature, or Riccardo Montleban who could have carried off the character of Rossi. Even Perry Como had more sex appeal than Philips. The rest of the cast, especially the supporting roles are so good, you almost wonder how Philips got the role. Imagine Gone With the Wind without Gable. It would have been a good, but not great movie.
Peyton Place with Lana Turner is a time capsule of small town Ameicana, without some cliché's which remained for later versions of Peyton place and its TV versions.
The original film also captured the way Americans were affected by the coming of WWII. From rich mill owner to shantytown resident, the war's toll was carefully revealed to the audience much better than the book.
There is plenty of social criticism and hypocrisy to be found in the book and movie. That and not the sex per se, was what made Peyton Place one of Hollywood's better movies that entertained, but also educated. Something they seem unable to perform today.
Peyton Place with Lana Turner is a time capsule of small town Ameicana, without some cliché's which remained for later versions of Peyton place and its TV versions.
The original film also captured the way Americans were affected by the coming of WWII. From rich mill owner to shantytown resident, the war's toll was carefully revealed to the audience much better than the book.
There is plenty of social criticism and hypocrisy to be found in the book and movie. That and not the sex per se, was what made Peyton Place one of Hollywood's better movies that entertained, but also educated. Something they seem unable to perform today.