Alfred Hitchcock’s screen version of Frederick Knott’s stage hit is a tasty blend of elegance and suspense casting suave tennis player Tony (Ray Milland), his wife Margot (Grace Kelly), and her American lover Mark (Robert Cummings) as the points of a romantic triangle.  When Milland dials a Mayfair exchange to set his plan in motion, his right number gets the wrong answer – and gleaming scissors become a deadly weapon.

CRITIQUE

When asked why he made Dial M For Murder, Hitchcock said, “When the batteries are running dry, just take a hit play and film it.”  Of course, what that really meant was to take a hit play and film it the way Hitchcock would film it.  Based on a hit play by Frederick Knott, and filmed in the then-trendy 3D process, Dial M For Murder is a taut little thriller, a brilliant chamber piece that injects distinctly cinematic elements into what is otherwise a filmed play.

The DVD is not presented in 3D.  At the time of its release, the process was already falling out of favor with moviegoers, and theaters decided whether or not to show the film in 3D or not.  What remains is Hitchcock’s staging, the way he framed the shots to that there is a constant proscenium feeling over everything, and he gives great depth to the set.  We feel like we’re right there in the apartment with them.  Despite his output, this was only Hitchcock’s third color film, and his use of color is very arresting, particularly in the outfits that Margot wears.  Hitchcock’s direction is as compelling here as it is in any of his other films.  In the opening two minutes of the film, we learn – completely through images and without dialogue – that Margot and Tony are married, and that Margot has also been carrying on this affair with Mark.  Establishing that would usually take twenty minutes of screen time, but Hitchcock gets it out of the way fast.  We also see this in the scene where Tony sells Swan (Anthony Dawson) on murdering his wife.  It is a long scene, but it is compelling, and Hitchcock reveals plot and character in the way the men talk to each other, and the way they behave.  Hitchcock had a way of subverting the audiences expectations as to who they should root for in the film.  No where is this more evident than in the scene where Swan tries to kill Margot.  In the various beats of that scene, we find ourselves moving from Tony to Swan to Margot.  Hitchcock was a master at this kind of manipulation, and this scene is a perfect example of how expertly he was able to pull this off.

The performances are excellent by all involved.  Milland is endlessly charming as the charming, plotting husband.  We root for him throughout the film, even when he becomes more diabolical as his plans unravel.  Watch how unflappable he is when he is outed in the end.  He barely flinches, offering everyone in the room drinks.  Also notable is John Williams as Chief Inspector Hubbard, the Sherlock Holmes style sleuth who sniffs out the truth despite Milland’s best efforts.  Williams would work with Hitchcock more than any other actor, and in this film he is one of the few police figures in Hitchcock’s work that is likable in anyway.  He is not a hapless buffoon and he is not sinister.  Williams pulls off the role masterfully.  Hitchcock later considered this one of his lesser works, but Dial M For Murder embodies so much of what has been lauded in his work that it is not to be overlooked.

THE VIDEO

Dial M For Murder is presented in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio.  The transfer is pristine, with all of the film’s rich color levels brought to vivid life.

THE AUDIO

This DVD is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 mono.  The film is not the best model for what DVD audio is capable of, but the presentation is crisp.

THE EXTRAS

Hitchcock and Dial M: a behind-the-scenes look at the actors, the writing, and why Hitchcock decided to make this film.

3D: A Brief History: a look at the development and decline of 3D filmmaking in the 1950’s and Hitchcock’s use of the technique in Dial M For Murder.

Theatrical trailer: the original theatrical trailer.

FINAL THOUGHTS

While Dial M For Murder is not typically considered one of Hitchcock’s more notable films, it is a remarkable work.  Hitchcock’s careful direction elevates the film beyond the realm of filmed play and tired chamber piece, and the result is tense and compelling.  The special features are insightful, making this a must see DVD.