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Play Misty for Me

Play Misty for Me

List Price: $14.98
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Bullseye!!!
Review: For his first film as a director, Clint Eastwood scores a bullseye in this Hitchcockian thriller whose reputation was only enhanced with the release of the imitative and inferior "Fatal Attraction" almost two decades later. Eastwood handles the action with a confidence to envy, and delivers one of his finest performances as the arrogant, womanizing DJ stalked by the homicidal Jessica Walter (in a performance that deserved notice from a fella named Oscar). Some of the dialogue given to Donna Mills is dated, but otherwise this remains a startlingly good suspense film (with breathtakingly beautiful scenery) and proof that, long before "Unforgiven," Eastwood was a director of great skill and courage. The courage is apparent in his williness to do the film at all. After all, who would have expected him to have made anything but a western his first time behind the camera?

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "SWORDPLAY a plenty!"
Review: Get out there and buy this movie for your collection - no matter what your preference is or what you age might be!

This one's a live wire!

FAR SUPERIOR to the flawed [but also good] "Fatal Attraction" - a torrid tale about a late night, bedroom-voiced DJ - [He provides music and comfort the sleep-deprived], and a quite disturbed [Lithium anyone?] Lady - an excellent Jessica Walter who has just the right bite as our stalker [in pre-stalker days]! Mr. Eastwood [debut] directed and starred as the somewhat numb love-interest, but as he is aptly told in the movie - "If you live by the Sword........"

Nasty moments aplenty, including very sharp knives and body-parts - by today's standards? "PG"

But it's really Miss Walter's movie - a tremendous [and tongue-in-cheek] performance.

"Play Misty For me" is quite close to the, later original Anglo TV basis for "Fatal Attraction" - makes a great companion-piece.
[Now for something slightly more sophisticated {kinkyish} try Verhoven's "The Fourth Man" - Oh, those one night stands.......when will they learn?!]

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Saw this for the first time. Edge of your seat thriller!
Review: Here is a film I have heard people talk about. So finally I decided to watch it for the first time ever and on DVD. I will not spoil the plot for you. But this film stars Clint Eastwood with the cast of Donna Mills and Jessica Walter. You will also see the lovely Clarice Taylor in a pivotal role. You may remember her from NBC's "The Cosby Show" tv series as "Grandma Huxtable". She was also in THE WIZ (1978). Donna Mills has never been so tender. And you will here the hit song, "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", sung by Roberta Flack. On this DVD in the Bonus Materials Setion, is a 50-minute 2001 featurette "Play It Again...A Look Back At Play Misty For Me" with interviews by Clint Eastwood, Donna Mills and Jessica Walter. Another featurette titled, "The Beguiled, Misty, Don and Clint" discusses the work of Clint Eastwood. Another interview is Clint Eastwood on the greatness of DVD preserving film. There is a photo montage while the tune "Misty" is playing. This film was shot on location in Carmel, California.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Clint's Romantic Side
Review: How often do you see Clint Eastwood show his sensitive side? Most of his movies are filled with action and suspense which are sometimes violent. But "Play Misty for Me" has romantic and suspensful plots. A jazz DJ named Dave, he meets a fan named Evelyn at a bar he has an affair with only to find that she is obsessed with him and won't let him out of her sight. Meanwhile, he is trying to patch things up with his girlfriend Tobie, who left the relationship because of her insecurity. He still holds a torch for her and wants to make things happen for them.
Jessica Walter, who plays Evelyn, does a great performance on the character showing how obsessed a fan giving the illusion of something that doesn't exist. She wants a relationship to form with her fan but he makes it clear to her that he doesn't love her. She goes so far as to attack his maid, Birdie, stalk him at his house, and even hurt herself to stay in his place.
Donna Mills, who plays Tobie, shows innocence and affection, unlike her deviant character in the soap opera Knott's Landing.
The scene I liked in the movie was when they were in the forest taking a hike and making love as Roberta Flack was singing "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". It is a romantic scene shared between the actors.
This movie is a kind of movie one can curl up to on those lonely nights.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: What Clint Eastwood called,"The original 'Fatal Attraction'"
Review: I first saw "Play Misty for Me" in the theatre way back in the early 1970's.Remember it well.It was a triple feature at the drive-in when tickets were around two bucks.That's something you don't see anymore,triple features,drive-ins and movie tickets for two bucks.Saw it recently on home video and the picture has held up rather well.Clint Eastwood plays Dave Garver, a late night DJ at a Jazz radio station in Carmel,California,(remember he was elected mayor there in 1986),and Jessica Walter gives a terrific performance as Evelyn Draper.Donna Mills is also very appealing as Garver's girlfriend Toby.It features fine cinematography by Bruce Surtees and a good score by the late Dee Barton.In an interview in 1988,Eastwood referred to "Play Misty for Me" as the original 'Fatal Attraction'".This was shortly after that picture came out and became a big hit.Glenn Close was nominated for Best Actress for her role.She didn't win but she should have though."Misty" was made 16 years earlier and I thought was just as good.

Some trivia for you,Steve McQueen considered the role of Dave but changed his mind.Eastwood made a long distance phone call to Roberta Flack to ask her permission to use her song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" in the film.Shortly afterward the tune became one of the biggest selling hits of the 1970's.In the top fifty best selling songs of the entire decade according to "Casey Casem's American Top Forty Countdown".Unfortunately "Misty" was not a hit at the box-office.It was a hit with many critics though.The screenplay was written by the late Jo Heims who was a secretary at Eastwood's production company Malpaso.It was co-written by the late Dean Reisner who co-wrote the screenplay for "Dirty Harry".Eastwood's friend and mentor and frequent Director Don Siegel has a cameo as Murphy the bartender.A few months later the two went on to make "Dirty Harry".And,"Play Misty For Me" was Clint Eastwood's directorial debut.And,a very impressive one indeed.A preview of things to come.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Play Misty Again and Again
Review: I first saw this movie in the 70s shortly after it was released. I was fascinated with the mystery of it, and I loved the haunting beauty of the Carmel CA coastline. But as a big jazz fan I especially loved the Dee Barton musical score. I could, and have, watched the movie over and over again just for the music. It has been a perpetual favorite of mine ever since, having worn out the VHS copy long ago and replaced it with DVD. Now won't somebody please release the soundtrack on CD?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very Watchable and Compelling
Review: I saw a rerun of "Coach" recently and there was none other than Jessica Walter playing Craig T. Nelson's pushy, possessive Agent. That reminded me of her chilling performance is this legendary "fatal attraction" thriller and made me wonder why she never became anything more than a Character Actress. Much of this film is hopelessly dated and unintentionally funny: from Clint Eastwood's hip-hugger pants to a fellow DJ taking a "toke" on a joint. And Donna Mills' haircut is a 70's horror ! But the scenery in Carmel is gorgeous and adds to the ambiance. As for Eastwood, he proves to be a better Director here than a Star: it takes him too long to realize that Walters' Evelyn Draper is unhinged at best. Only after the "Dirty Harry" type conclusion do we see the Clint we all know and love. Glenn Close's characterization in "Fatal Attraction" was more subtle and her descent into madness was gradual...Walter becomes nuts very quickly...spouting obsenities and insults galore. But "Misty" retains its impact, even 30 years later.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Walter's Star Turn
Review: I saw this movie again last night after many years and was pleasantly surprised that it still stood up so well. Jessica Walter's performance is creepy and compelling, and Eastwood is suitably baffled and unsettled by the way events unfold. An impressive directorial debut from Eastwood in which the star, at least partly, plays against type. Well worth seeing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This "Fatal Attraction" forerunner rocks!
Review: It's your basic situation of Eastwood meeting one of his fans, getting to know her, and not making his signals clear to her, such as he is still hung up on his last girlfriend (played by the VERY lovely Donna Mills). This fan (Jessica Walter) does not take that well, thus beginning the stalk phase of the movie. I'm not one who easily scared or startled by movies, but I just about jumped out of my chair when Walter attacked Eastwood's housekeeper. This is a must-see for anyone who likes this genre of films.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Buy "Misty for" Yourself
Review: Not only was this a SCARY, disturbing thriller, it was beautifully crafted and very well cast. Even the musical score played a part in the film (hence part of the title - "Misty") and Roberta Flack's romantic ballad "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face". But with music aside, this movie did not have an ounce of predictability the way many thrillers have. Instead it presented originality, suspense, drama, and wonderful acting and directing all in one complete package. This movie even took at artistic view at the backdrop and scenery (set along the beautiful Monterey/Carmel, California coast). By incorparting all these elements made this film a true complete work of art.


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