100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 62: Dial M For Murder

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Genre: Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1954
Starring: Ray Millard, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams, Anthony Dawson, Leo Britt, Patrick Ellen, George Leigh, George Alderson, Robin Hughes, Sanders Clark, Jack Cunningham, Robert Dobson, Guy Doleman, Bess Flowers, Sam Harris, Harols Miller, Martin Milner, Forbes Murray, Thayer Roberts

Description: An ex-tennis pro (Ray Millard) carries out a plot to murder his wife (Grace Kelly). When things go wrong, he improvises a brilliant plan B.

Review: In “Dial M For Murder” we meet Tony Wendice, a former professional tennis player, and his rich wife Margot. He’s had it with her. Tony gave up tennis for her so he could be home more often, but in the meantime Margot has started an affair with author Mark Halliday. Tony knows of the affair and has tried everything to keep them apart. He is so desperate that he planned the ‘perfect murder’. Tony black mails a former college friend to help him kill his wife. The plan goes wrong and now Tony has to outsmart the clever inspector Hubbard.
1954 was a successful year for Hitchock. Besides “Dial M For Murder” he brought us “rear Window”, what is probably my favorite Hitchcock film. Both films are based on plays and star Grace Kelly. The story of “Dial M For Murder” isn’t that complicated and almost every scene is set in the same location. But the plot twists make it a joy to watch. It’s an ideal thriller. But because it’s based on a play, there is a lot of talking. This is something you have to get through as a viewer. And the suspense isn’t in who has done it, but if Tony can get away with it.
“Dial M For Murder” is not one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best films, but still a great suspense crime thriller.

Rating: 3,5/ 5