Rating: PG
Genre:
Thriller
Release Date: 09/07/2004
SubTitles: English/French/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 105 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Adult Situations, Questionable for Children
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video
Based on the popular mystery play by
Frederick Knott,
Dial M For Murder is more talky and stagebound than most
Hitchcock films, but no less enjoyable. British tennis pro
Ray Milland suspects that his wealthy wife
Grace Kelly is fooling around with handsome American
Robert Cummings.
Milland blackmails a disgraced former army comrade (
Anthony Dawson) into murdering
Kelly and making it look like the work of a burglar. But
Milland's carefully mapped-out scheme does not take into account the notion that
Kelly might fight back and kill her assailant. When the police (represented by
John Williams) investigate,
Milland improvises quickly, subtly planting the suggestion that his wife has committed first-degree murder. He almost gets away with it; to tell you more would spoil the fun of the film's final thirty minutes.
Hitchcock claimed that he chose this single-set play because he was worn out from several earlier, more ambitious projects, and wanted to "recharge his batteries." Compelled by Warner Bros. to film
Dial M for Murder in 3-D,
Hitchcock perversely refused to throw in the standard in-your-face gimmickry of most stereoscopic films of the era--though watch how he visually emphasizes an important piece of evidence towards the end of the film.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Average Review:
Number of reviews: 1
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A reviewer
from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
A Phone Call of Death.
Alfred Hitchcock brings Frederick Knott's (who wrote the adapted screenplay) hit stage play to the big screen. Academy Award winner, Ray Milland stars as a retiring sports enthusist, who plans to have his wife (Grace Kelly) murdered after he learns about her illict affair with a young screenwriter (Robert Cummings) until the plan goes awry when she attacks and kills her would-be assailant (Anthony Dawson) with a pair of scissors and winds up being arrested for murder. Also starring John Williams, Leo Britt, Patrick Allen, George Leigh, George Alderson and Robin Hughes.
;)
