Dial M for Murder

Hitchcock is a director you can always rely on to give you something thought provoking. A man concocts a flawless plan to have his cheating wife murdered. However when the plan doesn't go exactly according to plan, he is forced to improvise and cover his tracks. It's very fun to try and catch the mistake he's made and see if he did in fact cover up everything. When an inspector gets involved, trying to piece together how the murder went down, things get really interesting.

Based on the play by Frederick Knott, it is acted out very much in stage fashion. There is a very minimal amount of sets and characters, and a considerable amount of dialogue. But if you pay close attention, you get sucked in by the events and the suspense.

Ray Milland is excellent as the husband who is trying to off his wife. If it wasn't for him, the movie would fall apart. Grace Kelly also does her role justice, however I prefered her in Rear Window. John Williams also plays a great supporting role as the Inspector. I have only seen bits and pieces of the remake A Perfect Murder, but after watching this, I would never want to see it, as I know Michael Douglas and Gweneth Paltrow would not compare.

The ending is both satisfactory, and yet strange. A great conclusion, but their reactions are a bit odd. It could have used a little something more dramatic. But it doesn't ruin it for me, it's still a fantastic suspense story. Keep your eyes peeled for what may be Hitchcock's briefest and most subtle cameos yet.

Hickcock exhibits his "Midas Touch"in this story of a husband attempt to put a contract on his wife. however everything goes awry when his wife ends up killing the hire killer and she is convicted for the murder. If you like cat and mouse mysteries... you will enjoy this one!!!

A rich adulterous wife (Grace Kelly) with a detective story writing boy friend (Robert Cummings). Add an old boy's club upper crust ex-jock (Ray Milland) married to said adulterous wife who nevertheless wants to stay on the gravy train. Add in the master suspense director Alfred Hitchcock working close to home in London and you have the makings of a movie about committing the perfect murder. The action centers around the plot for such a murder, its eventually being bungled and the fight to bring said mastermind ex-jock to heel. Don't these people ever realize that crime does not pay? But here I will give you a better reason. No way in hell is the beauty Grace Kelly going to be the fall girl in this plot. Enough said.

This is certainly a watchable film but a disappointment when you consider that it was directed by the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The mystery here is pretty good with enough clever twists. Ray Milland is at the top of his game as the nefarious husband plotting his wife's murder. Grace Kelly effortlessly shines as Milland's intended victim. Alas, I have to say that the fault lies in the direction. It seems that Hitchcock instead of directing the film is a slave to the "groundbreaking" 3-D technology and lets it direct him. The film stops at certain points to a resounding thud so that we can marvel at the sight of a tray of teacups coming at us. If Hitchcock trusted his instincts instead of being trapped by this gimmick technology maybe "Dial M for Murder" would have been a better film. The only films that I can think of made in 3-D that transcended the technology are "Hondo" and "House of Wax". Tolerable Hitchcock but we, and he, deserve better.

The hit Broadway play by Frederick Knott "Dial M for Murder" has been adapted to the screen several times, including the films made in West Germany and Sweden, as well as a TV movie in 1981 (TV) by Boris Seagal and the film "A Perfect Murder" (1998) directed by Andrew Davis with Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen. Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 adaptation was the first and certainly the best one even if the master himself considered it one of his lesser efforts. "Dial M for Murder" will be remembered as Hitchcock's first color film and the first of three thrillers he had made with Grace Kelly, the future Princess of Monaco, in the prime of her beauty and her talent. Using color proved to be very effective in the film. The first two scenes featuring Kelly wearing a white morning dress in the idyllic scene with her husband Tony and right after that kissing passionately her American lover, writer (Robert Cummings) in the red dress, immediately, without many words tell the viewer that the story of passion, deception, betrayal, and ultimately, murder will follow.

Ray Milland (Tony Wendice) is a surprisingly sympathetic villain (which is perhaps not surprising from the actor with talent, charm, and charisma that equal and remind a lot of both Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) who knows about his wife cheating and decides to teach her a lesson by plotting a very clever murder which will make him a sole heir to her money (she is a wealthy one in the family). His plan is perfect and almost works but Margot managed to not only escape the murderer but to turn the table on him while stunned Wendice is on the phone and listens how his well thought of plan collapses. Wendice is very resourceful and he proved to be a master of improvisation because it took him a few minutes in a cab to switch to a plan B that turned a terrified victim Margot into a cold-blooded murderess. Now it is up to seasoned and shrewd inspector Hubbard (John Williams) to find the crucial piece of evidence and to solve the case.

As always with Hitchcock, his directing is impeccable, the camera rarely leaves Wendice's apartment but the film is never claustrophobic which is the case for many plays' adaptation. It breathes and moves freely and we almost forget that we are in the same room for close to two hours. I would not call "Dial M for Murder" my favorite Hitchcock's film but it is enjoyable, clever, and witty thriller with the interesting twists, outstanding performances, and more than one truly memorable scenes.