Dial M for Murder

Name: Dial M for Murder
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 28, 1954
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 75
Cast: Anthony Dawson, George Alderson, George Leigh, Grace Kelly, John Williams

1954

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 92 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 92 Ratings

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Dial M For Murder

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: May 28, 1954 | PG

Starring: Anthony Dawson, George Alderson, George Leigh, Grace Kelly, John Williams, Leo Britt, Patrick Allen, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings, Robin Hughes

Summary: When American writer Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings) visits the very married Margot Wendice (Grace Kelly) in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder. After sensing Margot's affections for Halliday, her husband, Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), fears divorce and disinheritance, and plots her death. Knowing former schoolWhen American writer Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings) visits the very married Margot Wendice (Grace Kelly) in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder. After sensing Margot's affections for Halliday, her husband, Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), fears divorce and disinheritance, and plots her death. Knowing former school chum Captain Lesgate is involved in illegal activities, Tony blackmails him into conspiring to kill Margot. When she kills Lesgate in self-defense, Tony implicates her as being guilty of premeditated murder. Halliday must out-stratagize Tony to save Margot's live. [Warner Bros.]… Expand

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: PG

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther

The thrills come in following a succession of dawnings in people's minds.But Mr. Hitchcock has presented this mental material on the screen with remarkable visual definition of developing intrigue and mood. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

The result is a rather stagey film whose back projections look quaint, with 3D apparently used to foreground items of furniture, such as table-lamps, giving rise to some eccentric camera-angles. But the set-up is ingenious and the "kill" scene genuinely thrilling. [2013 3D Release] Read full review

B. Kite

If the things here are homelier and less loved than, say, Marnie's neon yellow purse or Cary Grant's glowing glass of milk, and the film itself no one's idea of major Hitch, it remains a fascinating investigation of a stillborn process from one of cinema's most dedicated inquisitors of structure. Read full review

John Petrakis

It remains the best movie ever photographed in 3-D, although the film, adapted from Frederick Knott's stage play, seems less than ideal for the 3-D process, given its tight interiors and extended dialogue scenes. [19 May 2000]

Rob Humanick

What tends to make even lesser Hitchcock films shine is his innate gift for directing performers, and this accounts for many of the pleasures of this ditty. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Lower case Hitch, but diverting and sleek, with the climax early on. [review of original release] Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

There are a number of basic weaknesses in the setup that keep the picture from being a good suspense show for any but the most gullible. Via the performances and several suspense tricks expected of Hitchcock, the weaknesses are glossed over but not enough to rate the film a cinch winner. Read full review

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User Reviews

michaelr

Oct 10, 2007

Dial M for Murder is one of those Hitchcock films that you can't sit still for do to all the captivating scenes, and this movie is one of the reasons that Hitchcock remains to be number one on my top ten directors list.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

Zegilgamesh

Jan 8, 2013

Paced superbly with thrilling climax and the standard **** finesse, Dial M for Murder is a surprisingly enchanting for a movie that is mostly spoken word.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MovieGuys

Jul 20, 2014

Dial M For Murder is a timeless classic Hitchcock thriller that is suspenseful and well-made, just as you'd expect. The performances, the story, and the faithfulness to the play are all there.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

askewreviews

Jun 29, 2013

Dial M for Murder depicts the carrying out and consequences of a husband's perfect murder scheme. The dialogue is fast-paced, witty and excellently delivered by the entire cast. This is fortunate because Dial M for Murder is a very dialogue-heavy film. It pulls you in, and though the climaxDial M for Murder depicts the carrying out and consequences of a husband's perfect murder scheme. The dialogue is fast-paced, witty and excellently delivered by the entire cast. This is fortunate because Dial M for Murder is a very dialogue-heavy film. It pulls you in, and though the climax occurs early you are kept guessing as to how events will turn out until the very end. By no means is this finest film but it is still brilliant in its own right.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imthenoob

Nov 3, 2016

It is based off a play so the film is sort of play-like. The cast is essentially just down to Milland, Kelly and Cummings and they all give strong performances from start to finish. Without a doubt one of my favorite Hitchcock films and still stands up after all these years.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Duke_Nukem

Oct 12, 2015

A nice suspenseful movie by Alfred Hitchcock. This tale about a cheating wife and her husband with a plan to kill her has been remade in 1998 under the title A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas. Both films are very good and have a beautiful leading lady: Grace Kelly and Gwyneth Paltrow.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Broyax

Jan 10, 2019

Voici un Columbo bien avant l'heure émanant directement du "Maître" du suspense, Alfred Hitchcock ; il y est d'ailleurs question d'imperméables et de quelques "détails" qui tombent comme un cheveu dans la soupe à la toute fin lorsque le fameux inspecteur démontre par a+b qui est l'assassinVoici un Columbo bien avant l'heure émanant directement du "Maître" du suspense, Alfred Hitchcock ; il y est d'ailleurs question d'imperméables et de quelques "détails" qui tombent comme un cheveu dans la soupe à la toute fin lorsque le fameux inspecteur démontre par a+b qui est l'assassin (que l'on connaît déjà).

Ce n'est pas Peter Falk mais un inspecteur de Scotland Yard qui vient faire sa démonstration et si on veut se montrer magnanime vis-à-vis d'une série dont les pochettes-surprises sont le fond de commerce, on ne peut que s'étonner que de telles sornettes puissent se balader tranquillement dans un film du "Maître". Du reste, les aberrations du scénario ne sont certainement pas en reste, car on tombe dessus assez souvent sans crier gare dans ce crime très imparfait...

Sans mentionner bien entendu Grace, la douce Grace qui se débrouille très bien avec le malotru et même en supposant qu'elle soit tombée sur le cave des caves, là encore, on nous prend bien pour des jambons...

Cela étant dit, on ne s'ennuie pas le moins du monde dans ce film du Maître, ce qui nous en bouche sérieusement un coin, étant donné le passif du bonhomme dans son domaine, c'est-à-dire le domaine de l'ennui et du baillement. Bravo au Maître donc qui a su nous tenir éveillé du début à la fin. La musique y participe également, elle qui est très énervée pour un oui ou pour un non et qui nous a peu énervé aussi, nous devons l'avouer.

Plutôt distrayant et assez intéressant, le film se prend donc les pieds dans le tapis à de nombreuses reprises avec en point d'orgue cette fin qui confine à un certain ridicule pour ne pas dire un ridicule certain. Mais un film moyen du Maître est certainement déjà un chef-d'oeuvre en soi, car tout est très relatif dans sa filmographie habituellement épouvantable.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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