Play Misty for Me
Dir: Clint Eastwood
1971
***
Clint Eastwood's directional debut should have been all about him really but he shows great generosity by making this Jessica Walters's film. I don't really believe for a second he was being generous, he was out-acted fair and square. His direction is pretty good though, particularly for a debut. I'm not sure he improved as a directer until relatively recently, far later in his career. His acting remains the same though and I'm afraid I regard him as one of the most overrated actors of all time. All that aside, Play Misty for Me is an example of great 1970's thrillers. Its influence is obvious but for my money Jessica Walters's obsessive stalker remains the best and most terrifying.