Peyton Place: What Awaits Me?

[ClassyCo]

For a long time I've thought about buying Peyton Place on DVD, and the bootlegs, of course. I found a copy on some website (the name is escaping me as I write this), but it's only like fifty dollars. I'm going to buy this DVD holder to place them in nicely.

What should I be looking forward to with television's first prime time serial? The pros, the cons?

 

[James from London]

No cons to speak of. It's like watching a really long and satisfying book.

 

[ClassyCo]

No cons to speak of. It's like watching a really long and satisfying book.

That's a very warm and positive insight for a never-before-viewer. It certainly gives me hope that once I get this ordered and start watching it, I'll fall in love with it and have my own opinions to write for all of you here.

 

[Alexis]

Yea, It's pretty wonderful. Like as James said a book or a series of books. I gobbled it up like the greedy soap slut I am.

 

[ClassyCo]

Well, honestly....

It will probably be a long time before I get around to this show. There are so many episodes and I have a terrible habit of falling into long and drawn-out viewing slumps where I can go months, and years even, without watching a single episode.

 

[Alexis]

It will probably be a long time before I get around to this show.

And maybe never if you don't use YouTube.

 

[ClassyCo]

And maybe never if you don't use YouTube.

Probably.

We'll see what happens.

 

[tommie]

Well, honestly....

It will probably be a long time before I get around to this show. There are so many episodes and I have a terrible habit of falling into long and drawn-out viewing slumps where I can go months, and years even, without watching a single episode.

I'm the same way - I currently have Prisoner Cell Block H (ep. 364), Mary Hartman (ep. 156), Dark Shadows (ep. 250) and Mary Tyler Moore (3x01) on my watch list that I hit pause on a couple of months ago. I'll probably pick these up this summer and maybe try to finish Prisoner and Mary Hartman this summer, but of course I just started watching Peyton Place and I'm a bit addicted with only three episodes in. Le sigh. At least with half hour shows it's "only" 257 hours, clocking in at slightly more than Melrose Place, Dynasty and Falcon Crest.

ETA: I also have Boris Karloff's Thriller on my watch list (ep 1x13), but at least that's an anthology series that can just be picked up at any time :drama:

 

[Alexis]

And they only run about 24 mins I think?

At least with half hour shows

 

[tommie]

And they only run about 24 mins I think?

If you count out the opening and ending credits + next on Peyton Place it's more like 22/23 minutes, but I was of course talking about US tv show "half hour". It's like how hour shows these days are 42 minutes rather than an hour (hell, in the past they at least used to be around 48-49 minutes).

 

[tommie]

George is such an ass, but I do like it how the other women seem to feel slightly threatened by him, as if they know he can fly off the handle. It was wonderfully played by the actors playing George, Connie and Catherine (?).

And Betty is already establishing herself as the soap slut/bad girl by scandalously dancing at the pub. I think I previously watched until around episode 20, but it's nice to watch these episodes again as a refresher. I'm surprised at some of the camera angles/techniques that are being used for a show in the 60s meant to air twice (?) weekly.