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Play Misty for Me (1971)
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast overview: Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter
Running time: 102 minutes
This is one I've been meaning to watch for a while, being a big fan of Eastwood's. It also happens to be his directorial debut, and he's gone on to make his name since with various films, some better than others, but it's clear even from this nascent effort that he always had a good eye for what makes a good film. The directing is very good, though there are a couple of long shots of speech that come across a bit distant. Still, that's a minor quibble, and it doesn't affect your enjoyment of the film.
And that's the main thing: this is an enjoyable film. The plot is simple enough - a local radio DJ has an obsessed fan who begins to stalk him incessantly, and it soon becomes clear that she's more than a couple of spanners short of a toolbox. As the film progresses, the tension grows and Jessica Walter's character - the stalker - becomes ever more obsessed and impinges on Eastwood's character's - Dave - life. It seems to me - though I'm no expert on mental health - a very realistic portrayal of how someone might act in such a position. Her obsession is frightening, and her behaviour and unpredictable temper reminded me a lot of another female obsessed fan - Annie Wilkes from Rob Reiner's Misery. Walter is terrific at creating such a character, and I think this is a decent acting effort from Eastwood, whose frustration and sheer confusion at what is happening is apparent throughout the film's fairly short running time.
The setting works well, and the many shots of the surrounding beaches and Pacific Ocean give a sense of location - and just work well. Eastwood knew this area well as he has lived there for a long time. That much is clear. Sometimes a clear geographical standpoint is missing from films - not here, the small-town nature works well.
This is a good directorial debut for Eastwood, who would go on to make better films but this is certainly one of his more underrated efforts, in my opinion. It slows a bit in the middle but that doesn't stop it from being an 8/10 sort of film. Recommended.
Quotes
Evelyn: God, you're dumb.
Evelyn: Something wrong?
David 'Dave' Garver: No, I keep getting the feeling I know you from somewhere.
David 'Dave' Garver: I'm just trying to tell you something. I'm trying to tell you there's a telephone. I pick it up and I dial it.
Trivia
The first scene Clint Eastwood shot was his former director Don Siegel's cameo as Murph the bartender. As a joke, Eastwood made Siegel do 11 takes - then told the cameraman to put the film in the camera.
Jean Shepherd claimed that "Play Misty for Me" was based on a real-life incident in which he was stalked by a female fan, which culminated in her trying to stab him.
Steve McQueen turned down the lead role, claiming that the female lead was stronger than the male.
Trailer
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast overview: Clint Eastwood, Jessica Walter
Running time: 102 minutes
This is one I've been meaning to watch for a while, being a big fan of Eastwood's. It also happens to be his directorial debut, and he's gone on to make his name since with various films, some better than others, but it's clear even from this nascent effort that he always had a good eye for what makes a good film. The directing is very good, though there are a couple of long shots of speech that come across a bit distant. Still, that's a minor quibble, and it doesn't affect your enjoyment of the film.
And that's the main thing: this is an enjoyable film. The plot is simple enough - a local radio DJ has an obsessed fan who begins to stalk him incessantly, and it soon becomes clear that she's more than a couple of spanners short of a toolbox. As the film progresses, the tension grows and Jessica Walter's character - the stalker - becomes ever more obsessed and impinges on Eastwood's character's - Dave - life. It seems to me - though I'm no expert on mental health - a very realistic portrayal of how someone might act in such a position. Her obsession is frightening, and her behaviour and unpredictable temper reminded me a lot of another female obsessed fan - Annie Wilkes from Rob Reiner's Misery. Walter is terrific at creating such a character, and I think this is a decent acting effort from Eastwood, whose frustration and sheer confusion at what is happening is apparent throughout the film's fairly short running time.
The setting works well, and the many shots of the surrounding beaches and Pacific Ocean give a sense of location - and just work well. Eastwood knew this area well as he has lived there for a long time. That much is clear. Sometimes a clear geographical standpoint is missing from films - not here, the small-town nature works well.
This is a good directorial debut for Eastwood, who would go on to make better films but this is certainly one of his more underrated efforts, in my opinion. It slows a bit in the middle but that doesn't stop it from being an 8/10 sort of film. Recommended.
Quotes
Evelyn: God, you're dumb.
Evelyn: Something wrong?
David 'Dave' Garver: No, I keep getting the feeling I know you from somewhere.
David 'Dave' Garver: I'm just trying to tell you something. I'm trying to tell you there's a telephone. I pick it up and I dial it.
Trivia
The first scene Clint Eastwood shot was his former director Don Siegel's cameo as Murph the bartender. As a joke, Eastwood made Siegel do 11 takes - then told the cameraman to put the film in the camera.
Jean Shepherd claimed that "Play Misty for Me" was based on a real-life incident in which he was stalked by a female fan, which culminated in her trying to stab him.
Steve McQueen turned down the lead role, claiming that the female lead was stronger than the male.
Trailer