The film starts with one of the most unnecessary additions of lyrics to music; Franz Waxman's beautiful "Peyton Place" theme is awkwardly enhanced with lines from author Grace Metalious' novel, as sung by Rosemary Clooney. An early 1950s recording superstar, Ms. Clooney was also actor José Ferrer's wife. "Return to Peyton Place" was one of Mr. Ferrer's few directing credits. Like the song, everything falls awkwardly into place. None of the original cast returns to "Peyton Place". Two engaging characters, "Norman" and "Betty" are forgotten. The original film's sweet romantic relationship between "Selena" and "Ted" is unforgivably altered. And so on
The main storyline has New York writer and runway prone Carol Lynley (as Allison MacKenzie) publishing her first novel, the oddly titled "Samuel's Castle", which causes a "Peyton Place"-type sensation. Back home, the townspeople are appalled at the novel's thinly veiled airing of their dirty linen. Like mother Eleanor Parker (as Constance MacKenzie Rossi) before her, Ms. Lynley has an affair with a married man, publisher Jeff Chandler (as Lewis Jackman). Lynley friend Tuesday Weld (as Selena Cross) handles the novel badly, and is romanced by ski instructor Gunnar Hellström (as Nils Larsen). Lawyer friend Brett Halsey (as Ted Carter) has married busty Italian Luciana Paluzzi (as Raffaella).
Many of the performers in the original "Peyton Place" received acclaim for their characterizations. Only one in "Return to Peyton Place" matched the caliber of the original - Mary Astor (as Roberta Carter) received a "Supporting Actress" mention from "The Film Daily" - she is excellent as the uptight resident trying to break up son Halsey's marriage, ban Lynley's book, and get principal Robert Sterling (as Michael Rossi) fired. This film was a moderate success, but was a setback for the "Peyton Place" franchise. The next project, a ground-breaking ABC-TV television serial, brought "Peyton Place" to full glory, and imaginatively developed and expanded upon Ms. Metalious' original characters.
***** Return to Peyton Place (5/5/61) José Ferrer ~ Carol Lynley, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor
The main storyline has New York writer and runway prone Carol Lynley (as Allison MacKenzie) publishing her first novel, the oddly titled "Samuel's Castle", which causes a "Peyton Place"-type sensation. Back home, the townspeople are appalled at the novel's thinly veiled airing of their dirty linen. Like mother Eleanor Parker (as Constance MacKenzie Rossi) before her, Ms. Lynley has an affair with a married man, publisher Jeff Chandler (as Lewis Jackman). Lynley friend Tuesday Weld (as Selena Cross) handles the novel badly, and is romanced by ski instructor Gunnar Hellström (as Nils Larsen). Lawyer friend Brett Halsey (as Ted Carter) has married busty Italian Luciana Paluzzi (as Raffaella).
Many of the performers in the original "Peyton Place" received acclaim for their characterizations. Only one in "Return to Peyton Place" matched the caliber of the original - Mary Astor (as Roberta Carter) received a "Supporting Actress" mention from "The Film Daily" - she is excellent as the uptight resident trying to break up son Halsey's marriage, ban Lynley's book, and get principal Robert Sterling (as Michael Rossi) fired. This film was a moderate success, but was a setback for the "Peyton Place" franchise. The next project, a ground-breaking ABC-TV television serial, brought "Peyton Place" to full glory, and imaginatively developed and expanded upon Ms. Metalious' original characters.
***** Return to Peyton Place (5/5/61) José Ferrer ~ Carol Lynley, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor