Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Elizabeth N — 28 Aug 2018

Warner Brothers studio forced Hitchcock to do this film to complete a contract and pushed for it to be shot in 3D even though the 3D fad had already run its course and was not making big bucks. So by its release date in 1954 it was mainly screened flat.

The re-releases to show off the 3D effects in more recent years are great for those who are curious, but this is not a matter of restoration since most audiences never saw it in the 3D format initially.

Lamps and trinkets on shelves in the foreground of shots just seem oddly placed. The special effect of a giant finger dialing a giant rotary phone (an effect Hitch had to request because 3D cameras couldn't capture the detail in a natural close-up) is clumsy and unbelievable.

This was adapted from a stage play and Hitchcock really seems to be phoning in his directing effort, like he is bored with the project. Ray Milland as Tony the husband, Grace Kelly as Margot the wife, and Robert Cummings as Mark the lover do an admirable job in the twisty plot about an attempted perfect crime.

It is a bit meta with jealous husband Tony questioning crime fiction writer Mark about murder and learning of tiny stupid mistakes that lead to the murderer being discovered. Of course this plants the suspense and leaves the audience in a state of tension until the crime is finally unravelled.

This is due to the writer of the play rather than a sign of Hitchcock's mastery of cinematic suspense though.