Sarno isn't interesting enough for me to study him. He's a sort of American Jess Franco, someone who seemingly just wants to make movies.
I saw MISTY over 30 years ago at a Cleveland drive-in showing, and it has haunted me ever since (its quality so contrasting with the typical junk shown at those since-extinct venues). Seeing it on DVD recently I was still mightily impressed at filmmaker Joe Sarno's command of his medium -it's my favorite among his 100-plus works.
The Koch DVD label has just released MISTY on DVD, and they have gone the extra mile by presenting the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio (2:35-1). In widescreen, much of the Chincoteague scenery is quite breathtaking, with wide green vistas, etc.
This is very sweet film! As a child I fell in love the novel about "Misty".
I first saw this film around 1967 at a children's matinée, and I remember the young girls in the audience were really getting into it, especially at the line by the grandfather, "The Phantom's a piece of wind and sky." With the advent of DVDs, I sought to find this film, but it took me about three years to find out the title, which I had forgotten, then another month to locate a copy, since it was out of print on video.
When I was a kid, my family went on vacation year after year to Chincoteague Island (off the Virginia Coast). It was a nice quiet place with sort of a Mayberry charm, though, like most places, it's not exactly the same any more.
The English title of "Misty" more or less defines this film. The setting, in a near tropical temperate rain forest, is just that for the entire film.
As a Marylander, this film is clearly a loving homage to the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague. A darling film, with a cast containing many locals, and actual Beebe family members (and their accents), this film has heart.
**SPOILERS** Despite the films misleading title "Misty" it's really about Misty's mom the free spirited 3 year old filly known as The Phantom. It was both Paul and his sister Maureen Bebee ,David Ladd & Pam Smith, who wanted to buy The phantom after she was caught in what's known as the annual pony penning or roundup on Assateague Island.
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