Dial M For Murder

Year: 1954

Grade: A-

Country: USA

Director: Hitchcock

Review

in my review for the lady vanishes i mentioned hitchcock’s penchant for confined spaces. that film took place almost entirely on a train, rope was all done in one apartment, lifeboat was done on a lifeboat drifting at sea, rear window took place in stewart’s apartment, and this film takes place primarily in grace kelly and ray milland’s home. my dad doesn’t like rope because he thinks it’s a filmed play, he’s crazy. rope and dial m for murder are both based on plays, but are hardly as constrained as a play. hitchcock moves the camera remarkably well and uses his edits wisely. this film also has the distinction of being made as a 3D film. i was lucky enough to see it in the theater in 3D presentation a long time ago as part of a double bill with comin’ at ya! it was so long ago though that i decided to count this viewing as my first time. milland is great as the suave, jealous husband who has planned the murder of his wife (kelly) down to the last detail. of course things never turn out quite as planned, but it’s just as well because seeing milland recover on the fly is as entertaining as it was seeing him unfold his plan to the old college pal (dawson) he was blackmailing to commit the murder for him in the first place. it’s a great yarn and hitchcock unfolds everything so neatly that i couldn’t help but smile. this film doesn’t usually get mentioned with his A-list titles (north by northwest, vertigo, psycho, birds…), but is just as entertaining as most of those. a really fun film. p.s. this one has the best cameo from hitchcock. milland and dawson went to college together and recall the old days by looking at an old picture – hitchcock is in the picture sitting at the same table as milland and dawson. they go on to talk about one of their pals named “alfred.” good stuff.