Peyton Place: Love Theme (1957)

The film Peyton Place (20th Century Fox, 1957), based on the best-selling exposé by Grace Metalious, is essentially the story of the coming-of-age not only of various characters, most of them high-school seniors, but also of a small New England town. Lana Turner, Diane Varsi, and Russ Tamblyn were the stars of the Jerry Wald-Mark Robson production, while Eleanor Parker, Carol Lynley, and Jeff Chandler headed the cast in the 1961 sequel, Return to Peyton Place, which also included Waxman’s love theme (also known as The Wonderful Season of Love) sung over the Main Title by Rosemary Clooney.

“In addition to the thematic material attached to certain characters in the ‘Leitmotiv’ manner,” wrote the composer, “there is another important theme which underlines everyone of the many narrations in the picture. The theme also acts as a curtain-raiser on the Main Title.” As the music is playing, the audience sees, behind the screen credits — snow-covered fields, covered bridges, etc. Here is Waxman at his romantic best.

The Love Theme returns many times in the soundtrack, mostly in expansive string writing, orchestrated by Edward B. Powell, notably in The Hilltop Scene