|
“Return
to Peyton Place”
|
 |
Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Drama |
| Video: |
2.35:1 Anamorphic
Widescreen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
2.0 (stereo), 1.0 (mono) |
| Languages |
English,
Spanish |
| Subtitles |
English,
Spanish |
| Length |
122 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
2/22/05 |
| Studio |
20th Century
Fox Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
|
Author and
Historian Sylvia Stoddard |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
Fox Movietone News: “Publisher
Honors Author” and “Star and Return to Peyton Place: A Smash
Hit” |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Theatrical trailer, previews
for other Fox Classics |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Carol Lynley,
Jeff Chandler, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor, Robert Sterling,
Luciana Paluzzi, Brett Halsey, Gunnar Hellstrom, Tuesday Weld
|
| Written
By: |
Ronald Alexander
based on the Novel by Grace Metalious |
| Produced
By: |
Jerry Wald
and Curtis Harrington |
| Directed
By: |
José Ferrer
|
| Music:
|
Franz Waxman
-- |
| The
Review: |
The sequel to “Peyton Place” comes
roaring to life in this seamy sequel directed by actor José
Ferrer. Featuring an entirely new cast playing characters
familiar from the first film, “Return to Peyton Place” returns
to the town just as Allison MacKenzie (Carol Lynley) raises
a ruckus with the publication of a novel that lifts the lid
on the town. Things become complicated in New York for as
her married publisher begins to romance her. Allison’s step-father
Mike Rossi (Robert Sterling) the principal of the high school
faces the threat of losing his job when Allison’s book is
stocked in the high school library. Additionally, the book
puts creates a rift in his marriage to Allison’s mother when
he becomes one of the few people to defend her book. Creating
this threat is Roberta Carter (Mary Astor). She’s also n a
mission to crush her son’s marriage because his new wife is
Italian. ---
|
| Image
and Sound: |
Nicely restored,
“Return to Peyton Place” looks exceptional in this DVD transfer.
The colors are vivid and clarity of the images sharp. Blacks
aren’t quite as deep as I would have hoped but the overall image
quality looks exceptionally good. The stereo soundtrack comes
across with nice depth and presence. |
| The
Extras: |
Two Movietone
News excerpts are included one that focuses the publication
in paperback of the novel (the author and star Carol Lynley
received the first two copies bound) and the premiere for
“Return to Peyton Place” in New York (where the only film
celebrities were the Three Stooges and actress Julie Newmar).
We also get theatrical trailer and trailers for a number of
other Fox Classics including “Peyton Place”, “A Letter to
Three Wives”, “The Diary of Anne Frank”, “All About Eve”.
There’s also a restoration comparison between an early film
transfer and the restored version of the film for DVD.
|
| Commentary:
|
Author and
Historian Sylvia Stoddard provide a solid commentary track with
lots of trivia about the making of the movie. The theme song
includes lyrics inspired by the opening from the first novel
and is sung by Rosemary Clooney (who was, at the time, married
to José Ferrer. The opening scenes were shot for the first film
and the sequel was shot with little to no location shots because
of the cost of “Cleopatra” bleeding the studio dry. Ironically
we learn that “Cleopatra” resulted (due to the cost) in the
creation of Century City; Fox had to sell its backlot to recoup
the cost of the film. --- |
| Final
Words: |
A sharp,
nice transfer in as close to the original scope ratio as possible,
“Return to Peyton Place” looks quite good. Although light on
extras, the film comes with a nice and informative commentary
track. |
