Clint Eastwood’s first movie as a director was a 1971 psychological thriller, and it immediately set the tone for the rest of his directorial career. Clint Eastwood is best known for playing gunslingers like the Man with No Name in some of thebest Western movies ever made, but he’s just as talented behind the camera as he is in front of it. Some ofClint Eastwood’s best movies as a directorare truly astounding films, likeUnforgivenorMillion Dollar Baby, and he’s cemented himself as one of the best in the business.
Even though he’s a veritable legend, Clint Eastwood, like everyone else, had to start somewhere. Unlike everyone else, however, Eastwood’s first outing as a director was sensational, and it served as a preview of all the wonderful films he would make in the future. Even after nearly half a century, Eastwood’s first film as a director is still worth revisiting, and it still provides some insight into his more recent movies. Eastwood’s 1971 moviePlay Misty for Mewas the start of his evolution as a director, though it also showed he didn’t have much to improve on right from the get-go.
Play Misty For Me Showed How Good Clint Eastwood Could Be Behind The Camera
Play Misty For Me Was Clint Eastwood’s First Time Directing, & It Was A Huge Financial & Critical Success
Clint Eastwood’s first outing as a director came in 1971, when he directed and starred inPlay Misty for Me.A psychological thriller,Play Misty for Mefollows Eastwood’s Dave, a radio station disc jockey, as he’s stalked by an obsessive fan, Evelyn (Jessica Walter), who calls in every night to request the song “Misty” by Erroll Garner.Play Misty for Meis filled with thrills, unexpected turns, and some excellent performances by both Eastwood and Walter, which helped it propel it to massive success. It was such a good film that it actually foreshadowed the rest of Eastwood’s directing career.
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Play Misty for Mehas 85% with critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and it earned $10.6 million against a budget of just $950,000 (viaBox Office Mojo).A resounding success both critically and commercially,Play Misty for Mewas essentially a preview of the heights Eastwood would soar to as a director. In the 54 years followingPlay Misty for Me, Eastwood would direct 39 more films, and the vast majority of them were successful in one way or another. In fact,Play Misty for Meremains one of Eastwood’s best directorial efforts even after four decades.
How Play Misty For Me Compares To The Other Movies Clint Eastwood Has Directed
Play Misty For Me Is Still Eastwood’s 11th-Highest Rated Directorial Effort After 54 Years
The best way to illustrate just how strong of a start to Clint Eastwood’s directorial careerPlay Misty for Meproved to be is to compare it to his later movies.Even after 54 years and 39 more movies,Play Misty for Meis still Eastwood’s 11th-best movie, according toRotten Tomatoes' critics scores. It has been surpassed several times both critically and commercially: Eastwood’s highest-earning film was 2014’sAmerican Sniperwith $547 million at the worldwide box office (viaThe Numbers), and his highest-rated isUnforgivenwith a 96% score. Still, for a directorial debut,Play Misty for Meis endlessly impressive.
1992
96%
1973
94%
2024
93%
1985
1982
1976
91%
2006
2004
90%
1995
2003
89%
1971
85%
2016
1990
83%
2008
81%
1993
78%
Aside from the numbers of Eastwood’s directorial career,Play Misty for Mealso served as a great insight into his personal brand and style as a director.As a psychological thriller,Play Misty for Mehad all the intense, interpersonal drama and suspense his later films likeJuror #2orMystic Riverwould come to be known for. He also evoked a truly impressive performance out of Jessica Walter, and today,Eastwood’s movies as a director are known for their stellar acting. Really,Play Misty for Mewas a glimpse of the styleClint Eastwoodwould perfect in the following decades.
