Review of Dial M for Murder (1954) by Rameshwar I — 20 Apr 2016

Wouldn't the world be so simple if everyone processes information as logically as the characters do here. An extremely low budget single set piece movie with 4 central characters doing a hot and cold job. One moment the action and dialogues feel irritating and the next moment they are intriguing. Works more as a 'what if' game you might enjoy on a lazy afternoon and talking about lazy somebody else is playing it and you just have to sit back and watch it.

Tony (Ray Milland) has retired from professional tennis and living off his rich wife Margot (Grace Kelly) who is having an affair with Mark (Robert Cummings) a crime fiction writer. When Tony learns of this affair, he comes up with an elaborate plan for a perfect murder involving his ex-college mate Swann (Anthony Dawson). When the implementation goes horribly wrong, Tony quickly turns it again to his advantage. But he has to convince shrewd Inspector Hubbard (John Williams) along with Mark.

Though it is highly inconsistent in terms of performances and dialogues, the screenplay is watertight with gripping suspense and a witty plot. What actually is a simple perfect plan, Hitchcock's brilliance shines here with his masterful placing of pieces and strategically joining them. Ray Milland's dialogue delivery is horrible in the beginning but gets better later and Mark's cautious and caring character could have been a little more interesting. Grace Kelly is beautifully shown but John Williams steals the show as the tactful inspector. Background score is loud as in all Hitchcock's movies including a thread that does not leave your head for sometime.

Low budget thriller at its witty best.