![]() ![]() ![]() He glances over to the dilapidated shacks by the tracks, and sees the downtrodden Cross family, whose story is to figure prominently in the film. Passing farms and fields, he arrives at a train crossing and must wait for the train to pass. An outsider to this New England small town, who will be its new high school principal, drives through the countryside on his way to Peyton Place. ![]() The first few minutes of the film are really quite magnificent for establishing the setting, and the premise of the story. You’d never know it by the inspiring travelogue over the opening credits. Even today, the phrase “Peyton Place” carries the meaning of a morally corrupt community, a den of secrets, a bastion of promiscuity. ![]() A remarkable, clever, and somewhat astounding introduction to a story that had been up to that time one of the most controversial novels ever written, banned in most states and some countries for obscenity. The opening shots and score exude a sense of triumph and soulful beauty. The movie “Peyton Place” (1957) opens with the joyous sound of church carillon chimes and stunning shots of New England pastoral scenes. (Above have a look at the trailer, and also a newsreel of the Hollywood premiere.) ![]()
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