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That line should have become as iconic as Glenn Close saying, "I'm not going to be IGNORED, Dan!" Because "Play Misty For Me," was a better film, and one of the late Jessica Walter's signature roles. I prefer this 1971 film, and Evelyn Draper, to "Fatal Attraction" and Alex Forrest, because everything in the 1987 film, from the costume desgin, to the art direction, and acting seemed so calculated and deliberate. Whereas Jessica Walter brought a frightening spontaniety to "Play Misty For Me" that communicated genuine insanity, rather than Close's social agenda.
You just could not get enough of Jessica!
Same with her as Libby in 1966's "The Group," or TV's "Amy Prentiss." Time and time again, Jessica showed a far wider range than she was ever credited for. She made the roles she got her own, but they proved her far more worthy of more and better roles,which she never got.
Alas, on March 24, Jessica left us, darlings!!!!!!!!! May she rest in peace! And she left behind a memorable series of performances.
There would have been no "Fatal Attraction," if not for Jessica. To think, this was 50 years ago, this year!
Fond farewell, Jessica.
Guys will think twice about meeting girls in bars, after seeing her as Evelyn!
Take a look at this clip! Genuinely scary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 comments:
AMEN!
Love, love, LOVED Jessica! So underrated when she was younger, never attained the stardom and offers she deserved. Agreed: as much fun as Fatal Attraction was, Jessica's chilling "God, you're dumb!" still beats Glenn's campier "I won't be IGNORED!".
Irks me no end that all her sly subtle performances of the 70s and 80s were completely buried and forgotten in favor of the mystifying cult series "Arrested Development". She's excellent in that, sure, but the series is the definition of "acquired taste". The sort of thing the press falls all over praising but you never encounter anyone in real life who actually watched it and liked it. The only genuine laugh it ever gave me was the bitch slap rivalry between Jessica Walter and Liza Minelli (who was so staggeringly out of her depth on this show you couldn't take your eyes off her, as if Krusty The Klown stumbled into Fawlty Towers).
My Dear,
I never saw Jessica's TV ventures,
or maybe just in pieces. She was
never showcased in a way that made
me want to tune in--she should have
had a show of her own. Even hosted
SNL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But then look at Betsy Palmer. She did
Tennessee Williams on stage, and what is
she remembered for? "Friday The 13th!!!!!!!!!!"
An acotr never knows where his career will
take him. Which is why I am still waiting!
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