Customer Reviews
Dial M for Murder Review 
2008-04-08
One of Alfred Hitchcock's classic films. Ray Milland is exceptionally good. Dimitry Tiomkin was one of the finest Hollywood film composers; however, in my humble opinion, there are some scenes in the movie, which could've used more suspenseful music.
A perfect murder...gone wrong! 
2008-03-20
Suspense and mystery - this Alfred Hitchcock movie has it all! Unlike some of Hitchcock's other films were he builds it up for all the action at the end of the movie, Dial M For Murder's action all takes place at the beginning of the movie. Grace Kelly was Hitchcock's favorite actress and he had already starred her in "Rear Window" earlier that year before casting her as Margot Wendice in "Dial M For Murder." He also used Robert Cummings (who he had previously worked with in 1942's "Saboteur") as Mark Halliday, the American bookwriter and Margot's boyfriend.
When the story starts, you witness Tony (Ray Milland), Margot's husband, going through every intricate detail in the cruel plans for his wife's murder, with the man he has hired to kill her. Tony's plot: the evening of the day he has planned to murder her, he will go out. It will be getting late so Margot will be going to bed. He will call their house, Margot will get out of bed, walk throught the living room to the desk at the far end of the wall near the windows. The hired killer will be standing behind the curtains, and when she steps behind the desk to pick up the phone, he will come behind her and throw a piece of rope around her neck and strangle her.
As Tony is going through the plans, he gives the killer directions of exactly how he is going to get in the house and exactly how he is going to leave. Pay careful attention to everything he says about the latchkey - it's the main clue to solving the whole thing.
The evening of the murder arrives. Tony goes out and Margot goes to bed - everything is going as planned so far. At the appointed time, Tony calls the house...you hear the phone ring...you see the light go on at the bottom of Margot's door (this is were the suspense starts to mount)...you hear the door click...then you see Margot walking towards the desk (and her doom?)...She picks up the phone, "Hello"...no answer..."Hello?"...Suddenly you see a rope get thrown around her neck. There's silence as he tries to strangle her. Then she's lying on the desk, trying to breath. She's reaching, reaching...and suddenly she grasps them - a pair of gleaming scissors - and plunges them into her assailants back.
But what will happen? Will the merciless Tony get away with her would-be murder? What will happen to Margot? Will she be blamed for defending herself?
DIAL 'M' FOR MEDIOCRE 
2008-02-23
There's no question that I hold Alfred Hitchcock to a higher standard than any other director. That's why, after multiple viewings, I simply consider this film to be fair. We have Ray Milland wanting to dispose of his wife, Grace Kelly for infidelity and money. So far, so good.But, within 10 minutes of the opening, we have Milland "on a pulpit" with his annoying voice droning on and on to a sleazy college acquaintance of how the latter is to commit the crime. Later, we have the equally annoying voice of "Sherlock Holmes" filling the airwaves, following the botched murder. Cummings is acceptable and Kelly is first rate, per usual. But,to me it's nothing but gab,gab,gab, with all of the "action" confined to one room. Additionally , one has to be ever alert to the latch key problem, lest the viewer becomes totally confused. All directors make poor films at times, even my personal favorite.
Great film -- too bad it's not really available for purchase on Unbox 2008-02-01
This is classic Hitchcock, and is one of Grace Kelly's best roles. It's a shame that this movie isn't actually available for purchase by download, even though the Unbox site says that it is. As of today, anyway, the movie can be rented, but it can't be purchased for $8.99. False advertising?
Great movie. 2008-01-29
This is one of the best movies of all time in my opinion. Suspense is outstanding. Story line is great. Acting is much better than average. And it has Grace Kelly. Most movies bore me to death--99.44% This is one of the very few that does not.
Dial M for Murder 2008-01-27
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.Running Time: 105 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA UPC: 085391115625
"Dial Milland for murder" 2007-12-29
RAY MILLAND'S PERFORMANCE AS AN EGOTISICAL ROGUE . JOHN WILLIAMS PLAYS THE POLICE INSPECTOR.
HE'S A BRITISH COLUMBO. BEFORE THERE WAS A COLUMBO. HE'S A DELIGHT! THE REST OF THE CAST
PERFORM WELL. ADAPTED FROM A SUCESSFUL PLAY. ONE OF THE BEST SCENES IN THE FILM IS MILLAND
CONVINCING AN OLD COLLEGE ACQUAINTANCE TO KILL HIS WIFE(GRACE KELLY) . FILMED IN BRILLIANT
COLOR! 5 STARS !!!!!
An intriguing Hitchcock mystery 2007-12-02
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.
purely Hickcock!!! 2007-11-01
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!!!
The Perfect Crime? 2007-10-30
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.
