Review of Dial M for Murder (1981) by Michael C — 23 Sep 2009

This seemed like a much more procedural film than some of Hitchcock's other classic suspense films, but the intrigue of watching the murder plan at hand unfold and fall apart was a blast to watch. I LOVE "the perfect crime coming apart and going wrong" sort of films, whether its Dog Day Afternoon, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, or my favorite Hitchcock film, Strangers on a Train.

This is another great entry in the genre. Grace Kelly is really great as the unfaithful yet somehow charming wife who is the target of the murder plot. She really excelled in Hitchcock's stuff, and I wish she had been in a few more of his films (she was originally supposed to star in the Hitchcock film Marnie; but having just married Prince Rainier of Monaco, the people of Monaco weren't into their princess playing a kleptomaniac).

This film is a lot like Rope in that it is primarily in one setting, which makes sense as this started out as a play. It's not among my favorites of Hitchcock's work, but its still a great Hitchcock film.