Suspense is the name of the game in 'Dial M For Murder (1954)' and it is dealt out in spades, each scene oozing it to the point where this stage-play adaptation is practically busting at the seams with the anticipatory, string-dangling stuff. While there's a lot of talking and expository dialogue, that's simply because of the single location and the commitment to stick to it - aside from a few asides in a single scene where cutaways are necessary to enhance the plot and, more importantly, the tension - while also just 'shooting the material', as Hitchcock put it, so as not to 'ruin' what was already a captivating and clever source story. 'Just shooting' is to Hitchcock what 'working for a lifetime to achieve a mastery of your craft' is to anybody else, though. Indeed, it is well known that this wasn't one of Hitchcock's favourite and one that the studio essentially forced him to do. He once said, to a room full of journalists, that he could've "phoned it in." This was almost certainly said in irony but I don't know what's worse: if it was or if it wasn't. There's no denying that Hitchcock, whatever you think about him personally, was a master of his craft and even this, one that he didn't care for as greatly as something like 'Rear Window (1954)' or 'Vertigo (1958)', is shot to perfection. It really is an astutely directed picture, one in which each frame is set up to make the most of every situation, and every moment truly is as taut and 'edge-of-your-seat' as it could possibly have been. The overall narrative is remarkably unconventional - since it essentially puts a 'villain' in the role of protagonist - and manages to switch our sympathies superbly, sometimes within seconds, so that every character is as empathetic as the last and there is no clear 'hero', as well as no moral compass other than that of our own. Plus, that murder sequence truly is one of the most intense and nail-biting of its kind. 8/10

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.

This movie has a great story line for the fifties and when he explains how he is going to plan her murder in detail is just mind blowing. Hitchcock had an amazing way of putting this movie together, but one thing I didn't really like was how cheesy the guys death was other than that i really didn't have much to complain about. Also when the main actor is blackmailing the guy it kind of draws your attention and has you thinking what going to happen next. I highly recommend watching this movie you wont be disappointed.

Dial M for Murder by Alfred Hitchcock is a crime/thriller. Starring Ray Milland, Grace kelly,and Robert Cummings. the film is set in London.Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) a retired tennis player has found out that his wife doesn't love him anymore. In response to this Tony wants to kill his wife. He follows someone that he knew form college and tricks him into having to listen to his bribe to kill his wife. Tony bribes the man with 1,000 but payed 100 pounds in advance. The plan is drawn out and as it is being executed the plan goes wrong and Tony quickly must make a plan B.Like in all Alfred Hitchcock movies there is a huge amount of camera work. Hitchcock uses camera angles to show how close the people are and emotions. The closer they are in his wide shots the closer they are in a relationship. Instead of using the actors voice more he uses their faces and their reactions to specific scenes to show their emotions.The acting in this movie is outstanding. You can really see the improvement on acting from this movie alone. You can see the emotion in the actors' face and in their voice.I thought that the movie was very well made and that it deserves a 9/10. I recommend this movie for anyone who likes crime/thriller movies.