Play Misty for Me is a 1971 American psychological thriller film, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, in his directorial debut. Also starring Jessica Walter and Donna Mills.
Plot[]
Popular radio show host Dave Garver (Clint Eastwood) becomes restless in his relationship with his girlfriend (Donna Mills). Impulsively, he goes out and sleeps with a woman (Jessica Walter) he meets at a nightclub. After the fact, he finds out she was not an anonymous hookup, but an obsessive fan who has called in repeatedly to request he play the song "Misty." Garver soon discovers extricating himself from the woman will be no easy feat as she becomes increasingly psychotic.
Cast[]
- Clint Eastwood as Dave Garver
- Jessica Walter as Evelyn Draper
- Donna Mills as Tobie Williams
- John Larch as Sgt. McCallum
- Jack Ging as Frank
- Irene Hervey as Madge
- James McEachin as Al Monte
- Clarice Taylor as Birdie
- Donald Siegel as Murphy
Reception[]
Critical response[]
The film has been given mostly positive reviews, with an 83% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In his 1971 review of the film, Roger Ebert wrote, "Play Misty for Me is not the artistic equal of Psycho, but in the business of collecting an audience into the palm of its hand and then squeezing hard, it is supreme." Critics such as Jay Cocks in Time, Andrew Sarris in the Village Voice, and Archer Winsten in the New York Post all praised Eastwood's directorial skills and the film, including his performance in the scenes with Walter.