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Dial M for Murder

8.2

26,005

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Remake:

A Perfect Murder

Remake:

Dial 'M' for Murder (TV)

Original title: Dial M for Murder
Year: 1954
Running time: 105 min.
Country: United States
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Frederick Knott
Music: Dimitri Tiomkin
Cinematography: Robert Burks
Cast: Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, Robert Cummings, John Williams, Anthony Dawson, Leo Britt, Patrick Allen, George Leigh
Producer: Warner Bros.
Genre: Mystery. Thriller | Crime. 3D. Cult Movie. Psychological Thriller
Synopsis / Plot: British tennis pro (Ray Milland) suspects that his wealthy wife (Grace Kelly) is fooling around with a handsome American (Robert Cummings). He blackmails a disgraced former army comrade (Anthony Dawson) into murdering his wife and making it look like the work of a burglar.

Awards: 1954: New York Film Critics Circle: Best Actress (Grace Kelly)

1954: BAFTA Awards: Nominated for Best Foreign Actress (Grace Kelly)

1954: National Board of Review: Best Actress (Kelly) and Supporting Actor (Williams)

Critics' reviews

"This is a technical triumph that Mr. Hitchcock has achieved (...) and the best of the lot is John Williams"

Bosley Crowther: The New York Times
"The rhythmic dialogue and comfortable performances let the viewer ease into the film (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Rob Humanick: Slant
"There is much of technical value in his geometric survey of the scene and the elaborate strategies employed to transfer audience sympathy among the four main characters."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"'Dial M' remains more of a filmed play than a motion picture, unfortunately revealed as a conversation piece about murder which talks up much more suspense than it actually delivers."

Variety
"'Dial M for Murder' is but a shadow compared to 'Rear Window', but it has its moments."

Michael Phillips: Chicago Tribune
"'Dial M for Murder' has a romping plot, a gloriously slimy villain and (...) some of the weirdest, tricksiest camera work of Hitchcock's career."

Henry Barnes: The Guardian
"Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 thriller is a precision-engineered delight (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"

Tim Robey: Telegraph
"Despite Hitchcock's own reservations this is definitely worth a look. Interesting to his aficionados and darkly funny and depressing in turns (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"

David Parkinson: Empire

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