Peyton Place.... Never Forget!
Sunday, July 12, 2020 at 11:00PM by Nathaniel R
Three afterthoughts about the 1957 Smackdown.
1. The reader ballots were quite interestingly divided though they were sparser than usual - are we doing too many Smackdowns or is it just that the films were harder to find this time? I was shocked to see that TFE readers who had seen The Bachelor Party weren't particularly fond of Carolyn Jones who, in my estimation, was the best of the nominees. Overall it was the lowest rated field of nominees I've ever seen for reader polling.
2. My own ballot for '57 would go like so...
- Marlene Dietrich, Witness for the Prosecution
- Carolyn Jones, The Bachelor Party
- Elsa Lanchester, Witness for the Prosecution
- Kay Thompson, Funny Face
- Isuzu Yamada, Throne of Blood
Though I reserve the right to ditch Lanchester and/or Thompson should I see something better. The speed of this summer's Smackdown schedule has made catching up or revisiting 'extra' films impossible. I definitely need to see Ruby Dee in Edge of the City as Nick suggested we all do. If you missed the 1957 podcast, it's right here at the bottom of this post for you listening pleasure or you can head to iTunes.
3. What was your 1957 takeaway? Mine was that I could probably watch Peyton Place again right this minute. It's not, maybe "good", but it's sooo watchable. And that ad campaign is a particular kitsch pleasure that I can't stop staring at.
Reader Comments (26)
The Smackdowns are brilliant! I love them and they have been such a wonderful thing to experience during this time, especially revisiting some old episodes. Please don't stop.
I think perhaps the response would be to do with the fact that the actresses are lesser known, as well as the films. A less built in audience.
My 1957 takeaway is that it's a brilliant year for film. I don't think the Oscar year does it justice but there are so many iconic films.
The Smackdowns always seem to sneak up on me, but I hope to actually send votes in for the next one since I have most the films handy and already have clear opinions and memories to fall back on should I run short on time.
I love the earlier years and this was a fun one to do, with the possible exception of having to revisit the odious The Bachelor Party. Even that was worth it to be reacquainted with Carolyn Jones's fantastic scene stealing work. I'm surprised to hear that others didn't find it memorable. My only complaint was that they really should have used her more.
I did rewatch all four films. Peyton Place I hadn't seen in years and it could be years again, though I do love those ads. It was big, and glossy and shiny but I'd rather go with The Best of Everything, or if I need a Lana fix Imitation of Life if I feel in the mood for a good wallow.
But it was a genuine pleasure to sit down to Witness for the Prosecution again. LOVE that film, own it and watch it at least once a year. Fantastic from top to bottom, Ty Power is a little much at times but he's super at the end. Marlene Dietrich and Laughton are perfection.
I did watch several new to me films from '57 to see if I found any hidden supporting actress gems among them. No luck but I did see some interesting worthwhile movies. So I guess that's my main takeaway.
The best of those were:
Throne of Blood-Been meaning to watch for years but thanks to TCM was finally able to do so.
Across the Bridge-Good adaptation of a Graham Greene story with a fantastic Rod Steiger performance.
Campbell's Kingdom-British made pastiche of rugged adventure, soap opera and psychological drama set in the Canadian Rockies with four of the big stars of English cinema-Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker, Michael Craig and James Robertson Justice fighting it out. Not a classic picture but I enjoyed watching those four push each others buttons.
Town on Trial-When a young woman is murdered in a small English village inspector John Mills sets out to find the killer with no shortage of suspects including town doctor Charles Coburn.
Never too many Smackdowns but it did take some doing for me to track down Carolyn's movie and Sayonara (a big UGH just like the first time I watched it) so that might have caused a lighter turnout.
Really enjoyed listening to the wrap up podcast, another great piece of the experience.
Thanks for all the hard work you put into it!
I do my best to participate in all. I had seen 4 of the nominees before and wasn't impressed with any, but a while ago so I decided to skip this one instead of rewatching four performances I didn't find myself to be fond of in the first place. I was a bit surprised to see so many 4+ ratings across the smackdown tbh!
Count me in for the next one!
Nathaniel, why don't you think Kay Thompson got nominated for Funny Face? On paper -- and in terms of level of sheer effort -- she should have been a shoo-in, not only for a nomination but possibly for a win, as well. Was she not liked in Hollywood? Or was it just the movie's fault? Curious to hear you take.
Also, if you want to read an incredible piece on her, check out Rex Reed's (boo) obituary, in which he claims that Kay Thompson invented rap LMAO:
https://observer.com/1998/07/oh-kay-rex-reed-recalls-kay-thompson/
I would say the overall quality of the lineup could've been why this smackdown wasn't as popular. I myself struggled to make it through the list and wasn't a real fan of any. I have been loving the extended smackdown season cause it gives me a excuse to correct some cinematic blind spots.
With 1957 I'd seen 7 features prior to the announcement of the smackdown (previously last year) and managed to get to about 110. I found some great films that of course the academy didn't go anywhere near.
My Lineup for 57 would've been:
Harriet Anderson, Smiles of a Summer Night
*Ruby Dee, Edge of the City
Marlene Dietrich, Witness for the Prosecution
Susan Harrison, Sweet Smell of Success
Kay Thompson, Funny Face
I honestly cannot believe none of you have seen A Face in the Crowd or A Hatful of Rain. Seriously, don't miss those two masterpieces.
I love Isuzu Yamada and her ghost-like Lady MacBeth. Best Kurosawa ever, except for High and Low.
PEYTON PLACE is my Best Picture winner! :)
Good luck on Isuzu Yamada. Throne of Blood apparently didn't play in LA until ... get ready ... 1962! That's the year it appeared on the Reminder List (per agot .com)
If the votes for ‘57 were sparser, was there even a ‘reminder’ column to ‘get your votes in with 1957 on the subject line?’ I marked July 7th on my calendar to watch these films - next thing you know, the results are announced. I looked through past pages and didn’t spot them polls are closing post.’
Tom -- good note. I did do less promotion this time too (the problem is that we're trying to do a lot at once because right now is when the guests are available due to quarantine... so in fact we've already recorded two more episodes!)
Sam -- I love Face in the Crowd which would definitely make my Best Pic list but I consider Neal a lead actress which is why she isn't on this ballot.
I didn't participate but the fun now in watching these films is the best thing.I love reading all the comments.
Kay Thompson would have been a great nominee! I love her performance in Funny Face.
For some reason I was really into watching all of the '57 nominees (it's always easier when one of the movies has more than one nominee, thus reducing the amount of move-watching time). The Bachelor Party and Sayonara aren't "good" necessarily, but remain fascinating time capsules (plus I'm still thinking about Caroline Jones in the former). I love how the Smackdown consistently celebrates the full year from which the nominees are culled. Context is everything and the Smackdown is everything!
Add my name to the list of "I was underwhelmed by this year" but that I love love love the smackdown. Thanks as always for organizing!
I watched these last summer so the memory isn't fresh. I wish I liked "Peyton Place" more but it's soooo long, and the subject matter a little too grim to be proper camp for me.
I did even track down "Bachelor Party", though it involved asking a friend who is a Chayefsky scholar who then found a region free DVD... can't say the movie really rewarded the effort, though it was interesting to see something so clearly low budget/independent from that era that was quite serious, not just trying for some kind of b-movie niche.
my 1957 Supporting Actress Nominees (so far)
Alida Valli - The Cry
Ingrid Thulin - Wild Strawberries
Miiko Taka - Sayonara (she is better than Miyoshi Umeki, has a trickier role to nail)
Sybil Thorndike - The Prince and the Showgirl
Susan Harrison - Sweet Smell of Success
-cinema omnivore
Kay Thompson in Funny Face! QUEEN!
Loved the smackdown. Peyton Place was the technicolor shit that I needed and I'm currently obsessed with Carolyn Jones' character. Love the hair, the sad eyes, the way she drops philosophers names...
I Love "Peyton Place"! The acting, script, beautiful color Cinemascope photography, direction, the pacing, and the Franz Waxman music, don't get me started - the lovely main title track, the incidental music accompanying the Maine Coast scene with Lana Turner (deserved nomination as are all the rest) and Lee Philips. They say it's a soap opera. But isn't life a soap opera? I'm telling you.
Peyton Place: High Points: Hope Lange, Lee (yum) Philips and "We turn out the lights and see what develops"
Low Point: The prosecutor calling the defendant to the witness stand to testify against herself, and a defense lawyer who doesn't even object!
Glad to see I wasn't the only one who thought Lee Phillips in Peyton Place was sex on legs.
Nathaniel, you go to re-watch "Peyton Place." Now!
"Think Pink" - that whole sequence is so memorable and is alive on you tube.
Kay Thompson would have been a nominee if I had been around in 1957 for sure.
(and possibly a winner) But the Oscars never took acting in musicals seriously.
Which makes it even more ironic that they took the acting in "Peyton Place" much more seriously. Peyton Place was good fun, just like "The Group" it gives a viewer a melodramatic look at the underside of American life at the time. Btw. if you haven't seen "The Group" do yourself a favour...
"Sayonara" was my discovery for this year, I was pleasantly surprised.
Sorry I didn't get a chance to see "The Bachelor Party" so could not vote on this smackdown.
I will do better next time, your work on this series is much appreciated.
Rob... ohmygod. to quote addams family values i was quivering under my bodice. Damn.
LOVING ALL THE SMACKDOWNS! Peyton Place and Witness for the Prosecution were both so fun! I love filling in gaps in my film history education. Keep 'em coming!