Dial M for Murder

Dial M for Murder

1954 "Is this the man she was waiting for... or the man who was waiting for her?"
Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder

Dial M for Murder

8.2 | 1h45m | PG | en | Thriller

An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to have his wealthy wife murdered after discovering she is having an affair, and assumes she will soon leave him for the other man anyway.

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8.2 | 1h45m | PG | en | Thriller , Crime | More Info
Released: May. 29,1954 | Released Producted By: Warner Bros. Pictures , Country: United States of America Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:
Synopsis

An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to have his wealthy wife murdered after discovering she is having an affair, and assumes she will soon leave him for the other man anyway.

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Cast

Ray Milland , Grace Kelly , Robert Cummings

Director

Edward Carrere

Producted By

Warner Bros. Pictures ,

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Reviews

shahraiz-kayani Perfect plan and perfect execution by Tony Wendice but due to Swann panic his second plan also failed. Swann left key outside I mean after murdering Margot Swann had to come back from the door. He left key outside I don't think he could make such a small mistake but again no crime is perfect.Overall Perfect.
Smoreni Zmaj The idea is fantastic, but the realization failed. Don't get me wrong, this is a great movie, but it could easily have been much better.A former professional tennis player finds out that his wife, for which he left his career and from which he depends financially, plans to leave him, so he plans a "perfect murder" to inherit her wealth. When things go wrong, he improvises a nearly perfect plan B. The original and the plan B are well designed, the film follows an intelligent and well-written outwitting of the main protagonists, and the story is so interesting that many will not even notice that the whole film takes place in one room with only a few characters. But this "mystery thriller", although very interesting, is neither mysterious nor thrilling, because the most of the "mystery" was revealed to us at the very beginning. The audience knows from the start the entire plan for "perfect murder" and follows the main character at every step of the improvised plan B, so there is no room for tension or speculation.The movie should have been opened by the scene of Grace Kelly answering the phone and the mysterious man attacking her from behind. From there they could build plot further, with occasional flashbacks to the time before the attack, where mystery would slowly unfold. If the audience observed the story from the angle of Grace Kelly or the police, instead of a man who devised the crime, the movie could have been straight ten. This way I rate it eight and, if it was made a few decades later, even that would be too high. 8/10
buckikris Retired tennis player Tony Wendice ( Ray Milland), finds out his wife, Margo( Grace Kelly) is having an affair. The movie starts with the Wendice's setting down for breakfast. Margo reads the paper, and finds out that her lover is coming over on The Queen Mary. Mark Halliday ( Robert Cummings) is from New York and writes crime novels for a living. Mark and Margo are a better match because they are around the same age and they both love each other dearly. Tony on the other hand is jealous, controlling and has his wife wrapped around his finger. Margo is very unhappy when she is around Tony and she can't wait to see Mark.Once Mark and Margo are together get together, she explains to Mark she has burnt all his love letters, except for one. She explains that one was stolen, and a few weeks later she received a couple of blackmail notes. Mark examines the note and notices it was written in all caps and could have been done by anyone. Mark thinks it's time to tell Tony what is going on; but Margo says no. She thinks it is too risky and could lead to more problems.One night all seems fine and dandy when the three of them are setting down for drinks. The three of them are suppose to go out to see a play together, but Tony cancels. He tells them to go on without him, because he has business he forgot to take care of. Mark and Margo have no idea that Tony is the one who found and read the love letter. Tony is mad and decides to take matters in is own hands. While Mark and Margo are away at the theater he calls a Captain Leslet/ Charles Swan ( Anthony Dawson) about a sale of a car. Tony tells Leslet he wants to meet him that night to discuss the price/purchase of the car. When Leslet arrives tony discovers that they know each other from college, but Leslet went by Swan back in the day. Tony discovers his old school chum has a checkered past and would be perfect for the job. He talks about his wife and knows Margo is having an affair because he tailed her one day to see her lover. Swan realizes the purchase of the car was a ruse, and Tony wants him for a murder for hire. He threatens Tony by going to the police, but Tony would deny everything, plus with Swans past no one would believe him. Then the offer of money comes into play with a 100Lbs up front. The rest Tony promises would be delivered to a safe box for him to pick up afterwards. Swan decides to do it, and asks when, Tony replies tomorrow. Tony believes he will pull off the perfect murder. He tells Swan to come over to the flat while He and Mark are away at a stag party. He will be able to get in with his wife's latchkey that will be under the staircase. While at the party, Tony will call him at 12 a.m.. This will wake Margo to answer the phone. Swan is to hide behind the curtains, and once she answers the phone he is suppose to strangle her.The next night Tony and Mark are getting ready to leave for the party. Margo wants to go to a movie while they are out; but Tony throws a fit. It alarms him so much he threatens to cancel everything. Mark doesn't like his attitude toward his wife, and starts to suspect something. That night Swan shows up and gets in. He waits around awhile and notices it's after 12 a.m.. At the party Tony realizes his watch has stopped. He knows he has to make a quick phone call to the flat before Swan leaves. He tells everyone he has to call his boss and leaves. Swan gets ready to leave then the phone rings. Quickly Swan hides behind the curtain and waits for Margo to answer the phone. Once she answers Swan wraps the scarf around her neck. Margo luckily gets the upper hand and stabs him in the back with scissors. Tony who is still on the line realizes his plan has failed. He tells Margo not to do anything, he is coming home. When he meets Mark he tells him that he needs to leave because Margo isn't feeling well. Mark wants to come; but Tony says it's nothing serious. When Tony returns home he acts concerned about his wife's welfare. He tells his wife to stay in the bedroom while he calls the police. Meantime while waiting for the police he plants evidence on Swan, The letter; and burns the scarf.When the police arrive the Wendice's are questioned by Chief Inspector Hubbard( John Williams). Hubbard is suspicious anyway, but continues his questioning. Mark later arrives and is questioned, he has nothing to hide. While the three are there Hubbard has to get Tony out of the house so he tells him to check out the crowd outside. Hubbard asks Mark and Margo how much does Tony know about their affair. When Margo is taken to the police station she is found guilty for the murder of Charles Swan. The reason nobody believed her story and she is to be quickly executed. While she is in jail, Mark does some investigating with the help of Inspector Hubbard.Mark later comes to Tony and tells him to confess to the murder for hire of his wife. Tony refuses and Inspector Hubbard knows there is more to the story as each day passes. Hubbard knew that Tony wasn't telling the truth when Mark found the blue case with money. Mark and Hubbard have to prove Tony is guilty. The way they start the plan is with the latch key. A plot between Mark and Hubbard is made to see if they can catch Tony in the end.This was a great film, even though it is mostly in one setting. This marriage was doomed from the start. I kept thinking that Tony was old enough to be her father, so it had to be a marriage of convenience. The moral of the story is there is no such thing as the perfect murder, a better solution is D-I-V-O-R-C-E.
jdmoviechatter Although this film lacks the more cinematic qualities of some of Hitchcock's best work, it is a wonderfully twisty turny tale of murder and betrayal that kept me thrilled pretty much the whole time, even though the movie is mostly just people talking. It has solid performances and a gripping story. I would recommend this one especially if you like Hitchcock. You'll probably like it.