Dial M For Murder
When American writer Mark Halliday visits the very married Margot Wendice in London, he unknowingly sets off a chain of blackmail and murder. After sensing Margot's affections for Halliday, her husband, Tony Wendice, 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.
Member Reviews
Murder From a New Frame of Reference - c4th
Alfred Hitchcock brings Frederick Knott’s play to life on the big screen in Dial M For Murder. In his usual style he crafts a tale of suspense which explores murder from a new frame of reference.
What makes this movie unique is that the details of the murder plan are revealed to the viewer before it even occurs. As it begins to play out, we sense the guilty pleasure of observing a perfect murder in progress. A few initial glitches seem easily overcome and it appears our main antagonist will get away with the ultimate crime. We discover our senses are incorrect when in one surprising moment, the main event goes completely contrary to plan.
For the remainder of the movie, the audience is in the unusual position of knowing what none of the characters do - the mysterious details of what actually occurred. Instead we are treated to the thrill provided by the battle of wits between the antagonist trying to cover his tracks and the authorities trying to solve the crime. The fate of an innocent character lays in the balance as these two opposing factions each race to outplay the other.
The plot moves along swiftly until the last piece of the puzzle is found. Some viewers may get impatient at this point as the writing drags out the “key” point while protagonists attempt to prove what we and they already know.A Nail-Biter That Makes You The Murderer - FilmJunkie
(1954)
Some great Hitchcock films are memorable for the twisted plots or strange characters. This is a film that takes place in one apartment, mainly in one room, and is entirely dependent upon how invested we are in the characters, mainly that of Tony (Ray Milland), the former tennis star attempting to murder his wife (Grace Kelly).
This film is a nail-biter not because of pending danger or a mysterious stranger, but because it depends entirely upon the dramatic irony that we the audience know exactly what happened while the characters attempt to figure it out.
Hitchcock puts a lot of trust in his audience with this film and it pays off in those last few moments as we feel like may have gotten away with murder. We become Tony, whether we like it or not, and it is because of that disturbing identification with a murderer that this is such a classic that continues to delight and entertain.Alfred Hitchcock Creates Fine Murder Mystery In "Dial M For Murder" - bwod
This English film stars Grace Kelly in her prime, as a woman set up by her not-so-loving husband, played icily by Ray Milland. With his testimony and manipulations, she is led down the garden path. Her death at the gallows seems imminent, when a savvy friend teams up with a detective from Scotland Yard to re-investigate the case. Alfred Hitchcock directed this classic. They don't call him the master of suspense for nothing. Definitely worth seeing. Keeps you riveted to the screen. Two thumbs up.
Member Reviews
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Murder From a New Frame of Reference - c4th
Alfred Hitchcock brings Frederick Knott’s play to life on the big screen in Dial M For Murder. In his usual style he crafts a tale of suspense which explores murder from a new frame of reference.
What makes this movie unique is that the details of ...A Nail-Biter That Makes You The Murderer - FilmJunkie
(1954)
Some great Hitchcock films are memorable for the twisted plots or strange characters. This is a film that takes place in one apartment, mainly in one room, and is entirely dependent upon how invested we are in the characters, mainly that of ...Alfred Hitchcock Creates Fine Murder Mystery In "Dial M For Murder" - bwod
This English film stars Grace Kelly in her prime, as a woman set up by her not-so-loving husband, played icily by Ray Milland. With his testimony and manipulations, she is led down the garden path. Her death at the gallows seems imminent, when a savvy friend ...