Overview
A small town's facade of morality crumbles as secrets surface and rebellion brews among its youth.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melodramatic
- oppressive
- earnest
- classic cinema night
- book adaptation viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film absorbing and strongly acted, while faulting its diffuse pacing and heavily bowdlerized treatment of the novel’s darker sexual scandals.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Peyton Place’s adult authorities enforce strict moral standards while hidden scandals, abuse, and family secrets emerge.
Young high school principal Michael Rossi arrives from outside the community and brings its concealed conflicts into public scrutiny.
The film adapts salacious material through a censored, morally restrained presentation while retaining rape, incest, and scandal as central pressures.
The small New England town’s influential adults police behavior through reputation, wealth, religion, and public scrutiny.
Films like Peyton Place, and why
East of Eden
Shared small-town melodrama, suppressed scandal, social hypocrisy, and strong female-centered drama.
The Tarnished Angels
Shared mid-century domestic melodrama, sexuality constrained by social respectability, and psychologically intense family conflict.
The Children's Hour
Shared ensemble drama about a tightly controlled community whose moral façade conceals violence and abuse.
Movie Details
- Director
- Mark Robson
- Release Date
- 1957-12-13
- Runtime
- 157 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (94)
Cast
- Lana Turner
- Hope Lange
- Lee Philips
- Lloyd Nolan
- Diane Varsi
- Arthur Kennedy
- Russ Tamblyn
- Terry Moore
- Barry Coe
- David Nelson
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Peyton Place about?
- In a tightly governed New England town, rebellious young people and an outsider principal expose the abuse, hypocrisy, and buried scandals beneath respectable appearances.
- What is Peyton Place like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Peyton Place as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Peyton Place violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Peyton Place as mild.
- What did critics think of Peyton Place?
- Critics broadly found the film absorbing and strongly acted, while faulting its diffuse pacing and heavily bowdlerized treatment of the novel’s darker sexual scandals.
- Which films are like Peyton Place?
- Films with a similar feel include East of Eden, The Tarnished Angels, and The Children's Hour.
- How long is Peyton Place?
- Peyton Place runs 157 minutes.
- Where can I watch Peyton Place?
- In United States, Peyton Place is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
