Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Daniel P — 08 Mar 2014

Brilliantly paced, acted, photographed and scripted thriller set almost entirely entirely within an apartment (something I only realised after it ended), Dial M For Murder is filled with memorable moments (Grace Kellly's hand outstretched in desperation, an image of which adorns the DVD cover, being but one).

The set-up and pay-off reminded me a little like an especially exciting and very well directed episode of Colombo (that series was clearly influenced by some of the conventions of this, and other Hitchcock films), with frequent twists and 'near-misses' as Tom (Ray Milland) continues to find ways of bluffing his way out of situations.

Originally filmed in polarized 3D but rarely shown in that format, you can practically hear Hitch rubbing his hands with glee as the camera looms in on close-ups of keys, hands and telephones. Odd that the concept of a 3D film shown in 2D actually works, but it does here, Dial M is a seminal thriller.