Peyton Place (TV series) (comment)
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This is a series i grew up with and even if the TV s in that period were only in black and white a lot of people who knew english were watching this . It mirrors some issues which every small comunity can identify with. Mia Farrow and Ryan O'neal were really famous at the time.
Peyton Place (TV series)
| Peyton Place | |
|---|---|
Original title card (1964–1966)
| |
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Created by | Grace Metalious (original 1956 novel) |
| Starring | (in premiere episode) Dorothy Malone Warner Anderson Ed Nelson Mia Farrow and (over the entire run of the series) a cast of over 200 actors in primary and secondary roles |
| Theme music composer | Franz Waxman |
| Opening theme | "Theme from Peyton Place" |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 514 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Paul Monash |
| Producer(s) | Everett Chambers Richard Goldstone |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) | 20th Century Fox Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | Black-and-white (1964–1966) Color (1966–1969) |
| Audio format | Monaural |
| Original release | September 15, 1964 – June 2, 1969 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Return to Peyton Place (film) |
| Followed by | Return to Peyton Place (TV series) |
Peyton Place is an American prime-time soap opera which aired on ABC in half-hour episodes from September 15, 1964, to June 2, 1969.
Based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 film adaptation. A total of 514 episodes were broadcast, in black-and-white from 1964 to 1966 and in color from 1966 to 1969. The first color episode is episode #268. At the show's peak, ABC ran three new episodes a week. The program was produced by 20th Century Fox Television. A number of guest stars appeared in the series for extended periods, among them Dan Duryea, Susan Oliver, Leslie Nielsen, Gena Rowlands, and Lee Grant, who won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Drama for her role of tough-as-nails Stella Chernak. The series served as the springboard for such performers as Mia Farrow, Ryan O'Neal, Barbara Parkins, Christopher Connelly, David Canary, Mariette Hartley, and Lana Wood.
Contents
History[edit]
With Peyton Place, ABC hoped to bring the success of the British serial Coronation Street to America. Inspired by that serial, it was decided that it should be aired in prime time.[1] Producer Paul Monash wanted to launch a revival of Grace Metalious' novel of the same name. He refused to acknowledge it as a soap opera, calling it a 'high-class anthology drama'.[1] An hour-long pilot was shot in 1962. Originally, the Cross family from the novel was included, but when Irna Phillips was contacted to change the pilot, she decided to scrap it. Various disagreements between the makers ensued, and the official pilot was not aired until September 15, 1964.[1]
When the series premiered in late 1964, it marked the birth of the primetime American soap opera.[2] The early stories were adapted from the 1956 book and 1957 film of the same name, although some principal character names, backstories and occupations were changed or simply eliminated. The time setting was changed from the early 1940s (of the novel and film) to the present day, and the town's location, which had previously been unidentified, was established as being in the commonwealth of Massachusetts in the fourth episode. Some sensational plot lines from the novel (like incest) were replaced with less controversial themes (like teen pregnancy).[1] The series, nevertheless, immediately was criticized for the sexual themes with which it dealt.[3]
Peyton Place was an instant hit; especially in the early years, when it had a loyal following from fans around the world.[4] Originally, it was aired twice a week, but because of its success, it was increased to three airings a week in June 1965.[5] When Dorothy Malone was rushed into emergency surgery, the producers were faced with the dilemma of what to do with her character, Constance MacKenzie, who at that point was too deeply embroiled in the plot line to disappear without reason. Lola Albright was hired to take over the role and continued in the series until Malone returned.
The show's downfall began in September 1966. Ratings dropped after Mia Farrow's departure. Farrow never expected the show to become a success and immediately tried to get out of her contract when the show started its airing. On the urging of her then-husband, Frank Sinatra, the producers decided to write her off the show in the summer of 1966.[6] The character Rachel Welles, portrayed by Leigh Taylor-Young, was written into the show as her replacement.[6] The addition of Taylor-Young's character, however, was not successful in increasing the ratings. The show was cut back to two airings a week.[5] By 1968, most of the original characters had been written out of the show, in many cases at their own request. Critics agreed the show had become 'dated'[5] and, because of the constant change in characters, confusing as well. The writers, already beginning work on what would be the final season, announced several new characters would be written into the show. They would deal with 'electrifying subjects, the war, the draft, riots, music, God, and godlessness'.[5] Although several well-known actors were added to the cast, including Ruby Dee, it was cancelled on June 2, 1969.
Major changes between the 1956 novel and the series[edit]
- The book is set in the years surrounding World War II. The series was set in the decade it was produced.
- The entire Cross family, an important family in the novel, does not appear in the television series.
- In the novel, Michael Rossi was a high school teacher and the school principal. In the television series, he served as the town's doctor.
- In the novel, Matthew Swain was the town's doctor. In the television series, he serves as the editor of the local newspaper.
- In the novel Rodney Harrington and Norman Page are unrelated. In the television series, they are brothers, sons of Leslie Harrington.
- In the novel, Betty Anderson is more bad-natured than in the television series.
- In the novel, Constance runs a clothing store; in the television series, she operates a bookstore.
Plots[edit]
The series opens with a shot of a church's steeple, and the words "Peyton Place" superimposed, with a tolling of church bells. Announcer Dick Tufeld announces "This is the continuing story of Peyton Place." The scene changes to scenes of the town square, a rolling brook, and a panoramic view of Peyton Place. It dissolves to cast members, and then narration of previous episode events by Warner Anderson, who also played Matthew Swain. In 1966 the message was changed to "In color, the continuing story of Peyton Place." Warner Anderson left the series after the first season, but continued as narrator to the series until the final episode.
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