Dial M for murder (1954)

Language: English

Actors: Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, Ray Milland

Director: Sir Alfred Hitchcock

Originally it was a play written by Frederick Knott that came on BBC in 1952. This again is one of those Sir Hitchcock experiements, just two major locations. First the Wendice’s flat and then the gentleman’s club. There are also two other minor locations, the road outside the Wendice’s flat and a courtroom montage (more about the courtroom scene in the PS).

The story is about an extramarital affair. A busy, tennis player husband. A beautiful lonely wife who falls for a crime writer. The husband gets to know of the relationship and he wants to finish his wife off for two reasons. First the most simple of reasons, revenge and second the most important, inheritance. Does he manage to achieve his objectives ?

That is the signature Sir Hitchcock suspense element. The beauty is that there have been many me too’s after this great movie. Lots of remakes and adaptations that didn’t even come close to this one. Beautifully made is an understatement. This one is one of the top ten mystery movies in the American Film Institute’s best movies list (June 2008).

Sir Hitchcock’s cameo happens 13 minutes into the movie. He’s seen sitting the near left of the banquet table in the college reunion photograph that Tony Wendice shows to Charles Alexander Swann.

Overall, dial M for a super movie…

PS: If that courtroom montage is put to action in Indian movies lots of actors would lose their job. There won’t be the unnecessary “Your honour” and the “Under IPC 304” anymore. We’ll get to see some beautiful courtroom scenes we’ll look forward to, seriously !!