Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

tonaluv If the only reason (or the no.1 reason) you give a wonderful film sequel a bad review, is because none of the original cast returned - aren't you totally missing the point? This is a great film with with a great cast and a good message against bigotry, racism, censorship, hypocrisy and small town insular small mindedness. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend you watch it!

wes-connors The film starts with one of the most unnecessary additions of lyrics to music; Franz Waxman's beautiful "Peyton Place" theme is awkwardly enhanced with lines from author Grace Metalious' novel, as sung by Rosemary Clooney. An early 1950s recording superstar, Ms. Clooney was also actor José Ferrer's wife. "Return to Peyton Place" was one of Mr. Ferrer's few directing credits. Like the song, everything falls awkwardly into place. None of the original cast returns to "Peyton Place". Two engaging characters, "Norman" and "Betty" are forgotten. The original film's sweet romantic relationship between "Selena" and "Ted" is unforgivably altered. And so on… The main storyline has New York writer and runway prone Carol Lynley (as Allison MacKenzie) publishing her first novel, the oddly titled "Samuel's Castle", which causes a "Peyton Place"-type sensation. Back home, the townspeople are appalled at the novel's thinly veiled airing of their dirty linen. Like mother Eleanor Parker (as Constance MacKenzie Rossi) before her, Ms. Lynley has an affair with a married man, publisher Jeff Chandler (as Lewis Jackman). Lynley friend Tuesday Weld (as Selena Cross) handles the novel badly, and is romanced by ski instructor Gunnar Hellström (as Nils Larsen). Lawyer friend Brett Halsey (as Ted Carter) has married busty Italian Luciana Paluzzi (as Raffaella).Many of the performers in the original "Peyton Place" received acclaim for their characterizations. Only one in "Return to Peyton Place" matched the caliber of the original - Mary Astor (as Roberta Carter) received a "Supporting Actress" mention from "The Film Daily" - she is excellent as the uptight resident trying to break up son Halsey's marriage, ban Lynley's book, and get principal Robert Sterling (as Michael Rossi) fired. This film was a moderate success, but was a setback for the "Peyton Place" franchise. The next project, a ground-breaking ABC-TV television serial, brought "Peyton Place" to full glory, and imaginatively developed and expanded upon Ms. Metalious' original characters.***** Return to Peyton Place (5/5/61) José Ferrer ~ Carol Lynley, Eleanor Parker, Mary Astor

Greg Couture On the big, wide CinemaScope screen of the Fox Village Theater in Westwood, in West Los Angeles, California, where I saw this one first-run, I settled in with some rather high expectations as the lovely theme song was beautifully sung by Rosemary Clooney, while stunning vistas of New England beauty followed one another over the opening credits.Alas, my hopes were quickly dashed and, as other IMDb comments attest, this followup to the very successful "Peyton Place" was a severe disappointment in most respects. The handsome cast was strangely set adrift amidst some rather drab production values and only Mary Astor was given enough to do and was allowed to do it well as the town's tyrannical matriarch. Her final scene is an example of an actress still in full command of her powers convincing an unwilling cinema audience (though not her fellow townspeople on screen) that being a prude and a social snob is a desirable way to live one's life!Jose Ferrer as a director was never much of a visual stylist so the VHS tape of this CinemaScope production, most probably not letterboxed, might satisfy the curious who want to see an example of studio product that was mired in a soon to be abandoned estimation of what audiences of that day really wanted to see.

matt-96 Compared with the original and it's brilliant cast, this sequel is a bit of a mess. Too much of Miss Lynley goes to New York and falls for very bland Jeff Chandler. Who cares. Also, the lack of a kindly Dr. (Lloyd Nolan in the first) strips the town of it's heart.But, on the positive side, Mary Astor is terrific as the ultimate soaper opera version of the evil, possessive, rich, self appointed queen-of-the town. Some great verbal sparing with her new daughter-in-law. And even in defeat, her final, dignified speech is frighteningly prophetic 35 years later. I watch a lot of movies, and this performance took my breath away. Wow!!!!! She is to Soap Operas villains what Alan Rickman is to Action villains.