Allison McKenzie (Diane Varsi) is a beautiful and sensitive high school student who aspires to be a writer and chafes under the confines of the small New England town in which she lives. Allison is being raised by her beautiful but neurotic single mother, Constance MacKenzie (Lana Turner), a shopkeeper. Constance is constantly harping on Allison about all matters pertaining to her life. She is very strict. In truth, Constance is hiding the fact that Allison was conceived out of wedlock, and despite her telling Allison that her father died, in fact, Constance was never married to Allison's father. Although she's trying to clean up her act, Constance develops the hots for the new teacher in town, Michael Rossi. Allison is hot and heavy over Norman (Russ Tamblyn), a serious Mama's boy. Meanwhile, Allison's best friend, Selena (Hope Lange), is being sexually abused by her white trash stepfather. When Allison discovers the truth about her parentage she flees Peyton Place and heads to New York City for a writing career. When Selena ends up killing her stepfather a scandalous murder trial takes place which lays bare dark, simmering secrets about Peyton Place. As Allison heads home to support Selena emotions in Peyton Place are running at an all time high. Will the town band together to support Selena or will the town's hidden scandals erupt in discord? This is a coming of age story that grapples with difficult issues such as unwed motherhood, incest, rape, and illicit relationships. This movie was a scandal when it came out in the 1950's.
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The review of this Movie prepared by sandra calhoune