Play Misty for Me

Rating:
Summary: Elegant, era-defining thriller
Review:
Play Misty for Me sees Clint Eastwood (who also makes his directorial debut here) play a DJ at a west-coast jazz radio station. One night he attracts the attentions of a female admirer whom he duly beds. Big mistake. The girl turns out to be a total psycho, and the consequences of one night's rumpy-pumpy are described in full. Recognise the concept? Of course you do, it's Dangerous Liaisons with less graphic violence and more charm. OK, some of the early 70s schtick dialogue occasionally grates ("How was your coffee?" "Too much!") but all-in-all I enjoyed this trip back to 1971 with all the trimmings.
What I like about Play Misty for Me is that it doesn't try to scare the audience into submission like its bunny-rabbit-bothering counterpart; it has plenty of suspense but relies more on Hitchcockian tension than heart-attack-inducing shock tactics.
Clint Eastwood has a great look in this movie (the sideburns alone are worth the admission fee), some of the music is first rate and the rocky California coastline (much in evidence here) is a perfect counterpoint to the unpleasantness of the main plotline, the jagged rocky cliffs mirroring perhaps the mental state of the lady stalker.
This is by no means the towering masterpiece that Dirty Harry was, but a seductive little thriller that fits snugly onto the Highly Recommended shelf.
This is my second-favourite Clint Eastwood movie after Dirty Harry, and if you're planning on a Clint Eastwood movie night I would recommend these two and perhaps The Beguiled as a third choice.


Rating:
Summary: A One Night Stand Gone Wrong
Review: "Play Misty for Me" was Clint Eastwood's debut film as a director. He shrewdly had old friend and colleague, veteran director Don Siegel, who directed him in his box office winner "Dirty Harry," along as a potential backup if needed, giving him a role as bartender of the haunt the actor frequents as male lead in the film. Eastwood's idea to film "Misty" in his hometown, scenic Carmel in Northern California's Monterey Peninsula, was an excellent choice. It gave cinematographer Bruce Surtees an opportunity to take advantage of the visual beauty of the area, which he does with abundance, making the film a scenic pleasure to watch. Eastwood, a noted jazz lover, also shrewdly takes advantage of filming opportunities at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Playing a disc jockey in the film, we see time frames based on the number of days to the upcoming festival, which Eastwood plugs frequently. Lots of excellent firsthand shots of the festival are seen, while certain artists are observed showcasing their musical talents.

As for the plot, the story line is credible, sharply on point. Eastwood meets Jessica Walters one night at Siegel's bar after he has finished doing his show. He walks her home, learning she is the faithful fan who keeps requesting the Errol Garner classic, "Misty." When she makes herself available, he hesitates, revealing he is hung up on someone, namely Donna Mills, then away pursuing her art career in Sausalito. Walters responds that there is nothing wrong with them making love with no attachments, after which Eastwood agrees to what he wrongly believes is a one night stand.

Eastwood is ultimately smothered by the persistent and mentally disturbed Walters, who surprises him by showing up unannounced at his home shortly after their sexual escapade with a bag of groceries in her arms, declaring her intention of fixing him dinner. He tries repeatedly and vainly to shake her, his romance with Mills being jeopardized in the process. He even loses an opportunity to develop a musical program concept for an interested producer, Irene Hervey, after Walters, wrongly believing she has interrupted a date, launches a savage verbal assault on the other woman when she finds them lunching at a local restaurant. Eventually a frenzied Walters attacks and hospitalizes Eastwood's cleaning lady, Clarice Taylor, with a knife, after which both are hospitalized, in Walters' case being involuntarily confined for her mental problems.

Just when Eastwood believes he is rid of Walters for good he receives a call from her. She reveals she is at San Francisco Airport awaiting boarding of a flight that will take her to Honolulu, where a job awaits her following her release from the mental facility. Eastwood declares there are no hard feelings on his part, asks how she is feeling, and wishes her well.

As he goes back to playing records, agreeing to play Walter's last request, her favorite tune, "Misty," Eastwood begins reflecting on the lines from the poem Walters recited for him before ending their call. It was from Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee." Mills has told him that her new roommate is named Annabel. When he calls Mills the phone is answered by Walters, who has tied up Eastwood's girlfriend. She tells Eastwood she is waiting for him. Eastwood puts on an old tape and leaves the studio for Mills' Carmel Highlands residence and a fatal showdown with Walters, who intends to kill them both in her fitful rage.

This brutally realistic film paved the way for later movies displaying stark sexual realism such as Michael Douglas' two triumphs, "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct." My only qualm is that the violence could have been toned down in the case of the knife attack on Clarice Taylor without losing any drama or story impact. All in all, however, this is a gem combining a strong story that moves briskly with the dramatically beautiful scenery of one of the world's most captivating areas.

Rating:
Summary: A One Night Stand Gone Wrong
Review: "Play Misty for Me" was Clint Eastwood's debut film as a director. He shrewdly had old friend and colleague, veteran director Don Siegel, who directed him in his box office winner "Dirty Harry," along as a potential backup if needed, giving him a role as bartender of the haunt the actor frequents as male lead in the film. Eastwood's idea to film "Misty" in his hometown, scenic Carmel in Northern California's Monterey Peninsula, was an excellent choice. It gave cinematographer Bruce Surtees an opportunity to take advantage of the visual beauty of the area, which he does with abundance, making the film a scenic pleasure to watch. Eastwood, a noted jazz lover, also shrewdly takes advantage of filming opportunities at the annual Monterey Jazz Festival. Playing a disc jockey in the film, we see time frames based on the number of days to the upcoming festival, which Eastwood plugs frequently. Lots of excellent firsthand shots of the festival are seen, while certain artists are observed showcasing their musical talents.

As for the plot, the story line is credible, sharply on point. Eastwood meets Jessica Walters one night at Siegel's bar after he has finished doing his show. He walks her home, learning she is the faithful fan who keeps requesting the Errol Garner classic, "Misty." When she makes herself available, he hesitates, revealing he is hung up on someone, namely Donna Mills, then away pursuing her art career in Sausalito. Walters responds that there is nothing wrong with them making love with no attachments, after which Eastwood agrees to what he wrongly believes is a one night stand.

Eastwood is ultimately smothered by the persistent and mentally disturbed Walters, who surprises him by showing up unannounced at his home shortly after their sexual escapade with a bag of groceries in her arms, declaring her intention of fixing him dinner. He tries repeatedly and vainly to shake her, his romance with Mills being jeopardized in the process. He even loses an opportunity to develop a musical program concept for an interested producer, Irene Hervey, after Walters, wrongly believing she has interrupted a date, launches a savage verbal assault on the other woman when she finds them lunching at a local restaurant. Eventually a frenzied Walters attacks and hospitalizes Eastwood's cleaning lady, Clarice Taylor, with a knife, after which both are hospitalized, in Walters' case being involuntarily confined for her mental problems.

Just when Eastwood believes he is rid of Walters for good he receives a call from her. She reveals she is at San Francisco Airport awaiting boarding of a flight that will take her to Honolulu, where a job awaits her following her release from the mental facility. Eastwood declares there are no hard feelings on his part, asks how she is feeling, and wishes her well.

As he goes back to playing records, agreeing to play Walter's last request, her favorite tune, "Misty," Eastwood begins reflecting on the lines from the poem Walters recited for him before ending their call. It was from Edgar Allen Poe's "Annabel Lee." Mills has told him that her new roommate is named Annabel. When he calls Mills the phone is answered by Walters, who has tied up Eastwood's girlfriend. She tells Eastwood she is waiting for him. Eastwood puts on an old tape and leaves the studio for Mills' Carmel Highlands residence and a fatal showdown with Walters, who intends to kill them both in her fitful rage.

This brutally realistic film paved the way for later movies displaying stark sexual realism such as Michael Douglas' two triumphs, "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct." My only qualm is that the violence could have been toned down in the case of the knife attack on Clarice Taylor without losing any drama or story impact. All in all, however, this is a gem combining a strong story that moves briskly with the dramatically beautiful scenery of one of the world's most captivating areas.

Rating:
Summary: A good one.
Review: A good example of how despite a dated wardrobe and filming style, a good movie will always be a good movie. Sure, there's some first time director oddities here and there and it's not right for everybody but overall a good one.

Rating:
Summary: A good one.
Review: A good example of how despite a dated wardrobe and filming style, a good movie will always be a good movie. Sure, there's some first time director oddities here and there and it's not right for everybody but overall a good one.

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking
Review: As a fan of Donna Mills I must say, she deserves more movies like this one. Everything fits in this movie. Great cast, great story, the atmosphere... typical 70ies fashion and film art. It couldn't be better. You'll enjoy every minute of passion, crime, suspense and much more !

Rating:
Summary: Great Suspense Flick; Much Like FATAL ATTRACTION!
Review: Before I saw PLAY MISTY FOR ME, I had heard a lot of good things about it. Then, I finally got the chance to rent it, and... it was excellent! Though there are a number of unnessessary scenes, such as the musical scenes, this is a very good shocker. Clint Eastwood stars (and directs the film) as a popular radio DJ who is being stalked by an obsessive fan (Jessica Walter). She meets him at his favorite bar, and they begin to have an affair-- he makes it clear to her in the beginning that there will be no strings attached, and that they should not see each other anymore after that. But, being the obsessive psycho that she really is, she doesn't listen-- invading his privacy even more.

Meanwhile, his old girlfriend-- whom he had a fight with previously-- returns to town, and they get back together. He wants to get rid of the "fan", but he can't-- she keeps coming to his place, even cutting her wrists when he says he doesn't love her anymore. Then she really starts to get crazy as she spies on him and his girlfriend. As the film progresses, we feel the tension returning, until the very end, with a heart-stopping finale.

Some people may think this is a boring 70's film; because there is no suspense music, only instumental 70's music. But that makes it even more unnerving. This is a must-see for any fan of films like FATAL ATTRACTION and DRESSED TO KILL!

Rating:
Summary: Some phonecalls can be hazardous to your health
Review: Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this movie about a smooth-talking disc jockey who has a brief fling with Jessica Walters, then finds that she's like cellophane on your fingers: he just can't shake her off. He is all cool and superficial and teflon, until he wakes up to the reality that Walters, who stalks him by phone and in person, is not going to go away.


The film has its flaws, the plot is not that intricate and is horrifyingly predictable (and predictably horrifying), but the acting partially counters those weaknesses. If Jessica Walters' character ever smiles at you, run away, and don't stop running. The end result is a movie whose lessons (e.g., flings can be very expensive) and mood are more memorable than it's story.

Rating:
Summary: Before Glenn Close there was Jessica Walter
Review: Clint Eastwood kicks off his directorial debut with a flying start. As late night DJ Dave Garver, he repeatedly gets requests from a seductive female(Jessica Walter) to play Errol Garner's "Misty." He soon meets her in his favorite nightspot he frequently plugs on his program. He sleeps with her; but by morning they have decidedly different ideas about where this is heading. He intended a casual affair, she dives headfirst into his life and he can't get her out. He begins to realize that her mental state is debatable. Things get complicated when Eastwood gets involved with a former girlfriend. The knife scenes in this movie are fast and furious, and I would compare them to "Psycho." Jessica Walter, for my money, is the scariest female psycho we've yet seen. Sixteen years later, "Fatal Attraction" adopted this formula, even having the nerve to directly lift some scenes. Unlike Michael Douglas, Clint Eastwood is single and openly states he's not looking to complicate his life--Michael Douglas is married with a child, and encourages his nemesis more than Clint Eastwood does. I think Clint is much less deserving of the punishment that follows. I watched this on a first date with the wonderful woman I'm now engaged to, so at least we have a happy ending!

Rating:
Summary: Before Glenn Close there was Jessica Walter
Review: Clint Eastwood kicks off his directorial debut with a flying start. As late night DJ Dave Garver, he repeatedly gets requests from a seductive female(Jessica Walter) to play Errol Garner's "Misty." He soon meets her in his favorite nightspot he frequently plugs on his program. He sleeps with her; but by morning they have decidedly different ideas about where this is heading. He intended a casual affair, she dives headfirst into his life and he can't get her out. He begins to realize that her mental state is debatable. Things get complicated when Eastwood gets involved with a former girlfriend. The knife scenes in this movie are fast and furious, and I would compare them to "Psycho." Jessica Walter, for my money, is the scariest female psycho we've yet seen. Sixteen years later, "Fatal Attraction" adopted this formula, even having the nerve to directly lift some scenes. Unlike Michael Douglas, Clint Eastwood is single and openly states he's not looking to complicate his life--Michael Douglas is married with a child, and encourages his nemesis more than Clint Eastwood does. I think Clint is much less deserving of the punishment that follows. I watched this on a first date with the wonderful woman I'm now engaged to, so at least we have a happy ending!