Play Misty for Me (DVD 2002)

Dave Garver (Clint Eastwood) is an easy listening nighttime DJ, giving the listeners of Carmel, California, gentle jazz, poetry and the opportunity to call in with a request. One such lady phones regularly requesting that Dave should Play ‘Misty’ for her.

After one of his late night shows, Dave goes to his favourite bar and picks up Evelyn (Jessica Walters), but little does Dave know is that she is the voice on the phone, and that she has a slight obsessive attitude to the DJ. Temper tantrums, violent outbursts, interruptions during business meetings are only the start of a nightmare that keeps getting worse.

Clint Eastwood’s directorial debut is nothing like his previous movies. He plays the victim rather than the hero. Which makes this movie even more interesting. Quite raw in its camera work, it has an edgy feel to it. Given the subject matter, the film could quite easily fall into melodrama, but Eastwood keeps the tension going throughout until letting rip with a satisfying ending.

On the acting front, Eastwood plays it laid back and lets co-star Jessica Walters, as the psychotic Evelyn steal the film. She manages to switch from vulnerable, sweet woman to total madness in the blink of an eye, and while some parts are totally over-the-top, it works as you try to place yourself in Dave’s position. True you shouldn’t have a one-night stand, but do you honestly deserve what he has to put up with?

The rest of the cast do a fine job, including Eastwood’s mentor and director Don Siegel, as the barman Murphy. It is rumoured that Eastwood made Siegel do a scene eleven times before telling the cameraman to put film in the camera.

Universal Pictures didn’t want to risk too much with this film, so to allow Eastwood to direct, he had to waive his acting fee, which he did. The studio did allow him total freedom, and in typical Eastwood style, he managed to bring the film under budget by $50,000 and four days ahead of schedule, taking just 21 days to film.

So why does this film work? Because it doesn’t try to be flashy, it doesn’t try to be pretentious, it doesn’t try to be anything but a good thriller with a message. And those who thought “Fatal Attraction” was the best thing since slice bread should think again. This was the basis for that, and it’s a far better film. Recommended.