Review of Peyton Place (1957) by Maria V — 01 Jun 2010

This is your run-of-the-mill 50's melodrama with one exception: it tackles subject matter that, for its time, was truly controversial and groundbreaking. Matters of incest, abortion and illegitimacy are all touched upon albeit in a somewhat superficial manner.

Lana Turner is once again the straight-laced serious mother hen trying desperately to control her daughter, Diane Varsi, and prevent her from making the same mistakes she did in her youth. There was a lot of potential here but the script ultimately does not live up to it.