Rent The Misfits (1961)

Excellent - The Misfits review by Mike

I saw the film when it was released in the 1960's, and was so pleased to see it again on DVD. One of my top 20 films !

I had forgotten just how stunning this Hollywood production was - The Misfits review by mc

All five principal actors are brilliant, alone and together. Monroe is so young and comes over so mature, An equal in acting maturity with the others AND beautiful. I love the authenticity, the horror of the rodeo and capture of the mustang, the daring of he mountain flight and roping of the animals. It is a very beautiful and fearful play and I love it. Malcolm

Star Power with Bruises Underneath - The Misfits review by griggs

It’s set in a Nevada that’s basically dust, heat, and too much open space — the kind of place where people talk like they’re being honest, even when they’re kidding themselves. Arthur Miller’s script is doing the heavy lifting: romantic, sad, and not remotely shy about how people can hurt each other while insisting they’re “fine”.

The cast is the real hook. Marilyn Monroe is terrific — funny, bruised, and far more grounded than her icon status suggests. Thelma Ritter turns plain talk into truth without even trying, Montgomery Clift brings that fractured vulnerability he does so well, Clark Gable surprised me by being properly solid, and Eli Wallach is the standout: restless, charming, and a little dangerous.

What it keeps circling is the tug-of-war between commitment and escape, and the way masculinity turns into a performance — loud, proud, and oddly fragile. It got under my skin in a sneaky way, because the film never begs for sympathy; it just lets people keep making the wrong call.

The only thing stopping it being a total knockout is Huston’s tone. He can’t quite find the balance: is this meant to be an outright Billy Wilder-style comedy, or a melancholic western about people realising their lives don’t fit anymore? It keeps wobbling between the two, so scenes sometimes land with a shrug when they should land with a sting. Still, The Misfits is absolutely worth your time: star power with real bruises underneath.