Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- heightened
- witty
- sardonic
- classic movie night
- melodrama marathon
What critics said
Critics found Mary Astor's performance compelling but considered the script shallow, diffuse, and predictable, while acknowledging the film's polished camp melodrama appeal.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The plot centers on scandalous secrets, threatened marriages, censorship, and an overbearing small-town mother in an intentionally heightened register.
Roberta Carter campaigns to ban Alison Mackenzie's novel from the school library because it exposes the town's secrets.
Alison's novel drives the disputes between townspeople, her family, the school, and multiple marriages.
Residents of Peyton Place react collectively to Alison's depiction of their sinful secrets and attempt to control its reputation.
Films like Return to Peyton Place, and why
Peyton Place
shared small-town scandal, domestic melodrama, and revelations about hidden social hypocrisies
The Best of Everything
shared mid-century suburban scandal, sexual repression, and heightened soap-opera melodrama
Imitation of Life
shared forbidden desire, social hypocrisy, and emotionally charged domestic melodrama
Movie Details
- Director
- José Ferrer
- Release Date
- 1961-05-05
- Runtime
- 123 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (42)
Cast
- Carol Lynley
- Jeff Chandler
- Eleanor Parker
- Mary Astor
- Robert Sterling
- Luciana Paluzzi
- Brett Halsey
- Gunnar Hellström
- Tuesday Weld
- Max Showalter
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 Return to Peyton Place about?
- A small New England town erupts into censorship battles and marital turmoil when one of its own publishes a scandalous novel exposing local secrets.
- What is Return to Peyton Place like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Return to Peyton Place as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Return to Peyton Place violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Return to Peyton Place.
- What did critics think of Return to Peyton Place?
- Critics found Mary Astor's performance compelling but considered the script shallow, diffuse, and predictable, while acknowledging the film's polished camp melodrama appeal.
- Which films are like Return to Peyton Place?
- Films with a similar feel include Peyton Place, The Best of Everything, and Imitation of Life.
- How long is Return to Peyton Place?
- Return to Peyton Place runs 123 minutes.
- Where can I watch Return to Peyton Place?
- In United States, Return to Peyton Place is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
