Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Lorraine J — 03 Aug 2009

Like Hitchcock's earlier work ROPE (1948), this is also a murder thriller that's not a whodunit story, but rather a simple but intelligent and straightforward film where the focus is committing the perfect murder and raise the question of what's the only little fault or clue is missing that will help to catch the real criminal mastermind.

Certainly one of Hitchcock's best, but the credit also goes to a nicely paced clever play written by Frederick Knott from which the movie was adapted. As Knott was also the writer of the screenplay, the script is wonderfully constructed, the dialog is witty and beautifully captivating, with many twists and turns that spiced up the complex plot and keep it from being boring or tiresome.

The movie literally is shot entirely in one single room, but Hitchcock's classy camera works allow a highly vibrant flow that never lets the movie be tedious. The film breathes and moves freely and we almost forget that we are in the same room for close to two hours.

Stunning full color photography and a perfect atmospheric score for a perfect murder complete the package; where the master of suspense once again manipulates and captivates his audience in his brand crafting way.