Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Chris M — 05 Aug 2013

Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder might have been really been something had the script not stayed SO faithful to it's stage origins. As is, the film plays out in literally ONE ROOM! On stage, would this work? Yes, but on film it gets boring very quickly. Hitchcock only really shines when he gets to build us a deliciously unnerving sequence of sustained suspense as Grace Kelly is stalked by her assailant. After this wonderful sequence, the film return to its typical, talky manner in which it begun and stays there until the film reaches its ending. Surely Hitch could have recognized that the script was less the than stellar. To add salt to the wound, this film was originally released in 3-D. Why? There's only two 3-D gags in the whole film.

In the end, Dial M For Murder is just a whole big bag of missed opportunities that has a great director, cast, and story, but a dull script that feels like it takes eternity to get to the climax. The film would be remake twice to much better effect in 1981 and especially in 1998 with A Perfect Murder staring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow.