Clint Eastwood explains why he chose "Play Misty for Me" (1971) as his directorial debut: "Eastwood: It was the subject. I had lived through a similar experience, though it was less dramatic. The character played by Jessica Walter, which was suggested to Jo Heims by an acquaintance of hers, was also familiar to me. It’s someone who fantasizes a love relationship. For my character, the disc jockey, it’s a one-night stand, but for her it’s a devouring passion. This misunderstanding interested me: