this 1957 blockbuster be cut edge for it time and but be greatly water down the tawdry nature of the book . many vicious detail present in grace metallious breakthrough novel be simply set aside for various reason and likely 1950 censorship . in view this today and the film seem more like little house on the prairie . it be just so unseemly that allison mckenzie and little norman page be under suspicion of skinny dip even though they do no such thing . the novel and the movie both brilliantly spell out the underlie motif of new england puritan hypocrisy . in the novel and ms. metallious point out that gossipy old middle age woman castigate against young people and because they themselves be just too old and fat and and ugly to go out and party any more . since nobody want them and they point the finger elsewhere to through attention from themselves . lana turner seem to have one mode in this film while that be and to walk around like a frigid bitter ice queen deliver harsh line at everyone . all in all and quite a good show and but a bit dated .