RETURN TO PEYTON PLACE

US, 1961, 123 minutes, Colour.
Carol Lynley, Jeff Chandler, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor.
Directed by Jose Ferrer.

Return to Peyton Place reminds us that sequels have always been popular. Peyton Place was a big film of 1957, gaining many Oscar dominations. It was directed by Mark Robson with a strong cast led by Lana Turner. The film was based on the best seller by Grace Metalious, opening up the truth about life in a small American town. It was the forerunner of many such melodramas of the late 50s and early 60s - and of many series in later decades. The book was considered somewhat scandalous in its time - perhaps especially by the people whose lives were being written about.

This sequel retains the central characters (and the popular musical score and song). However, the cast is changed. Carol Lynley is only moderately successful as Allison Mc Kenzie. Jeff Chandler is stern looking as Lewis Jack man. Popular young stars of the period took most of the central roles - the only one with major success, was Tuesday Weld who portrayed Selina.

It is the veterans who steal the film, especially Eleanor Parker as Alison's mother and in one of her roles in the later part of her career, Mary Astor as Roberta Carter. In fact, the sequences with Mary Astor are the most interesting in the film - especially the meeting she calls when she wants to sack Michael Rossi as principal of the high school and the town turns upon her. It reminds us of what a striding actress Mary Astor was over many decades. The material, while perhaps sensational in its time, is fairly commonplace by the standards of later decades. The direction, not particularly exciting, is by actor Jose Ferrer.

1. The popularity of the original Peyton Place, the quality of the film, Oscar nominations etc? The musical score? Retaining the focus of the characters, score? Life in the town? The value of a sequel? How effective in comparison with the original?

2. Cinemascope photography, the New England settings, the town, the contrast with New York and its style? Musical score? The cast, the young stars, the veterans? Mary Astor?

3. Audience expectations, Grace Metalious' novel, the sensations at the time of its release, the expose of lives in the small town? The film continuing the trend, the popular novel, the public meeting in the town? Standards about obscenity, privacy, censorship?

4. The focus on Alison Mc Kenzie, the opening, having written the novel, waiting the New York call or mail? The good news? Her stand with Lewis Jackman? Going to New York? Relationship with her mother, the background of her mothers' pregnancy? Michael Rossi as the sympathetic stepfather? Their support? The small town and everyone knowing one another, running through with the news, everybody knowing? The response of Roberta Carter? Alison going to New York by herself, her mother's hesitation, not saying good-bye? New York, meeting Lewis Jackson, her telling her the truth, her being hurt, the decision to work on the novel, working all night, phone calls home? Infatuated with Jackman? His marital status? The platonic friendship? Outings with him, the award dinner? The decision to return home? The confrontation with her mother and her anger, the slap? Sympathy for Michael and his being dismissed? Selina and her anger? The reaction of the town? Her going to the meeting, Lewis supporting her at the meeting? The people supporting her, her speech? Her decision not to go back to New York but to stay in Peyton Place?

5. Lewis Jackman, his ambitions as a editor, his shrewdness, demands on Alison? Their working together? His own marriage? His attraction towards Alison but keeping the friendship professional? His response to her success, going to Peyton Place, his speech at the meeting? Returning to New York?

6. Connie and Michael Rossi, Connie's background and her resentment of her pregnancy, protective towards Alison? Michael and sympathetic, the issue of the book, taking a stance, confronting Roberta Carter and the group, dismissed, the meeting? His speeches and pleas about freedom, obscenity? The defence of Alison? Connie and her work, friendship with Selina? Clashes with Roberta? Going to the meeting, her antagonism towards the book, support of Michael? Her speech and support of, Alison and letting her go? A loving relationship which leads to parting: the relationship between parents and children?

7. Roberta Carter, her status in the town, wealth, the dress shop, her antagonism towards Selina - and then using her by inviting her to come to the meal? Her possessiveness about her son? Her anger at his wedding? Her rudeness towards his way of speaking, listening in, telling lies? Her reaction about the book? Ringing people, taking stances, wanting it banned? Her motivation? The treatment of Selina? The meeting, her supporters? Her son turning against her, his speech? Her being humiliated? Her plea for isolation from the outside, world, surviving? Her statements about obscenity? The whole town standing against her, her warning that they would regret it? Mary Astor's performance as the villain of the piece? Ted, his breaking free of his mother, his love for his wife, her Italian background, her modelling, the marriage, not inviting his mother, the pregnancy? The wife being hurt, confronting Roberta, angry with Ted, skiing and wanting to bring on a miscarriage? Ted's stance against his mother?

8. Selina, working in the dress shop, used by Roberta? Friendship with Alison? The story of the rape, the trial and her being acquitted, the town ostracising her? Angry in the car, meeting the ski instructor, the clash with him, attracted, falling in love? His reading the book, her angers? Disappearance, the ski instructor and is attraction towards her, defence of the book, declaration of love and proposal? Her return?

9. The townspeople, isolated, public standards, private morals? Their harshness? The New England puritan tradition? Their antagonism towards New York and New Yorkers? The town Council, the meeting? Listening to reason - and the humour with John at the meeting and his interventions, and his contrariness?

10. A portrait of small town life of the 1950s in the U.S.? Changes since? A world of best sellerdom on screen?