Review of The Beguiled (1971) by Ron B — 04 Oct 2008
If the DJ Eastwood portrayed in PLAY MISTY FOR ME was a bit of a conceited jerk when it came to women, the fellow in this movie is a complete cad and bounder of the lowest order. Director Don Siegal was a bit of a misogynist and probably intended this film (and Eastwood's character's fate) to serve as a warning about matriarchy.
Eastwood, I suspect, felt no sympathy for his character who is a charming lothario let loose in a girl's school. He feels completely in control of the situation and does not understand the dangers that playing his sexual games might unleash.
Unlike the DJ in PLAY MISTY FOR ME, Eastwood's character learns nothing about himself in this film and walks blindly to his ultimate fate in this southern gothic horror(?) story. Eastwood is truly an underrated actor and this is the only time in his career that he played an out-an-out cad.
This review of The Beguiled (1971) was written by Ron B on 04 Oct 2008.
The Beguiled has generally received positive reviews.
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