Do you like Mark Robson’s style of filmmaking? If yes, then you’ve got to watch Peyton Place! Read this article to know where was Peyton Place filmed and other intriguing details about this movie.
The American crime drama flick, Peyton Place was released more than 50 years back. This iconic film was actually based on Grace’s crime fiction novel, which was published before the film. Mark Robson was the director of this film and later chose to bring John Michael Hayes on board. While Mark was at the helm of affairs behind the lens, Michael worked on perfecting the screenplay.
The basic premise of Peyton Place is centered around the people of a small town in New England, who have buried deep secrets behind their closets. The plot thickens when the female lead confronts one of her family members for a shambolic act.
Peyton Place was pretty successful commercially. In fact this mind-bending film went on to gross over $25 million at the box office. Peyton Place also collected several nominations, including two at the Oscars, and won several major awards. Fans who love watching gripping crime films, have always considered Peyton Place to be one of the best films of all time.
Now, if you’re interested to know more about this award-winning film, then let’s first check out where was Peyton Place filmed.
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Where Was Peyton Place Filmed? Let’s Know This Iconic Crime Drama Film Closely!
A vast number of films are made each year, but not all movies can stand the test of time. This is because they lack certain qualities which are commonly found in a majority of iconic films, which are filming locations and gripping stories.
Seasoned filmmakers like Mark are well aware of this formula, and a large number of films that he made over the years, eventually became super-successful. For Peyton Place, though, Mark had the opportunity to work with a skilled screenwriter who was already working on a gripping story adapted from the original crime novel.
Thus, Mark spent most of his time selecting suitable cast members for this project and later scouted several filming locations in and around America. During the initial production phase, Mark decided to visit the locations in person and looked for ideal shooting spots. Subsequently, the director scouted a number of potential shooting spots around the northeastern state of Maine.
Important to mention that the majority of the shooting later took place in and around Maine, while some sequences were also shot in New York and New Hampshire. The principal photography commenced in the first week of June 1957 and continued for one and a half months.
The production members were able to capture the sequences without any challenges. It was because Mark supported the crew and arranged pretty much all of the shooting permissions in advance.
So let us take a closer look at where Peyton Place was filmed.
Maine | USA
This historical state of Maine is located in the northeastern region of America. This iconic American state is famous for its rich cultural and geographical heritage. Every year, thousands of tourists visit Maine to enjoy the scenic view of Baxter Park and Mt. Katahdin. Plus, the famous lobsters found near the coastline of this state also attract a lot of locals and tourists.
However, Mark didn’t select Maine to be the main shooting location (pun intended) for the above-mentioned reasons. As the director had to depict the fictional town of “Peyton Place,” which lies in the North England region of America, he thought of selecting a state which actually existed in the same region.
The movie’s opening sequence, where we see the characters of Paul Cross and his grandfather Lucas inside their home, was actually filmed in Camden. The production members arranged a medium-sized home located on the outskirts of Camden.
Other outdoor shots depicting the small town of Peyton in the film were filmed in other cities in Maine, such as Belfast and Rockland. The courtroom scene of the movie was filmed inside Knox County Courthouse, located at 62 Union Street, Rockland, Maine.
Other Filming Locations
Other important exterior shots were captured in the state of New York, specifically around Lake Placid. The production members then moved to California and filmed the majority of the interior sequences of the movie inside a well-equipped studio.
If you’re planning to visit Maine in 2023, then you must look up Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Portland, and Ogunquit. These iconic coastal cities will surely make your trip memorable. Plus, earlier this year, the state of Maine was also nominated for the best American destination spot to spend summer vacation.
And now, allow me to give you an overview of Peyton Place. Meanwhile, you can also read Only Murders in The Building, Cocaine Bear, and My Cousin Vinny.
Plot Of Peyton Place | What’s It About!
The basic premise of Peyton Place revolves around the characters of Paul Cross and Constance MacKenzie. At the very beginning of the film, the lead actor appears to be in a stressful situation after arguing with his grandfather, Lucas.
As the story progresses further, the inner dynamics of the peculiar members of the Cross family slowly surface. Subsequently, the character of Constance emerges when she is wronged by one of her family members. Finally, the female lead decides to expose the evil member of her family, hoping for justice.
Watch Peyton Place and find out whether Constance gets justice in the end or not!
Final Words
Ok, friends! I hope you’ve noted all the filming locations of Peyton Place. I’ve also included a number of famous tourist spots in Maine; you can check them out as well. However, if you seem to have any more questions regarding where Peyton Place was filmed, you can add your query in the comments box below.
But, if you’re interested in reading other articles like Where was Peyton Place filmed, then don’t forget to browse through other pieces on Viebly.
