Peyton Place is a 1957 drama film, based on the best-selling novel by Grace Metalious. The movie tells the stories of several characters living in a seemingly perfect small town in New England, which turns out to be full of secrets and scandals.
The central character is Constance McKenzie (played by Lana Turner), a single mother who runs a local bookstore. She is determined to maintain the appearance of a respectable, upstanding citizen, despite having given birth to an illegitimate daughter, Allison (played by Diane Varsi), when she was young. Constance is cold and aloof towards her daughter, trying to protect her from her own past mistakes.
Michael Rossi (played by Lee Philips) is a new teacher in town, who becomes attracted to Constance despite her frosty demeanor. He becomes a mentor and friend to Allison, encouraging her to pursue her dreams of going to college and becoming a writer.
Meanwhile, the high school students of Peyton Place are caught up in their own dramas. The "fast girl" of the town, Betty Anderson (played by Terry Moore), is rebelling against her stepfather, who she believes is responsible for her mother's death. She starts dating Rodney Harrington (played by Barry Coe), the son of the town's wealthiest family, but their relationship is complicated by his mother's disapproval.
Allison, on the other hand, falls in love with Norman Page (played by Russ Tamblyn), a shy and insecure boy who is controlled by his overbearing mother. Their relationship is tested by Norman's mother's interference and the disapproval of the town's conservative residents.
As the film progresses, the secrets and scandals of Peyton Place are revealed, leading to tragedy and heartbreak for several characters. The movie deals with themes of sexual repression, parental neglect, and the hypocrisy of small-town life. It was controversial at the time of its release for its frank treatment of taboo subjects like premarital sex and abortion.
Peyton Place was a box office success and received nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. It spawned a popular television series that ran from 1964 to 1969, as well as a sequel film, Peyton Place: The Next Generation, in 1985.