A Perfect Murder (1998)

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers (WGA):

Frederick Knott (play)
Patrick Smith Kelly (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

A powerful husband. An unfaithful wife. A jealous lover. All of them have a motive. Each of them has a plan.

Plot:

A remake of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Dial M for Murder (1954).

Plot Keywords:

Artist | Murder | Love | Violent Husband | Cynicism

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Steven Taylor
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Emily Bradford Taylor
Viggo Mortensen	...	David Shaw
David Suchet	...	Mohamed Karaman
Sarita Choudhury	...	Raquel Martinez
Michael P. Moran	...	Bobby Fain
Novella Nelson	...	Ambassador Alice Wills
Constance Towers	...	Sandra Bradford
Will Lyman	...	Jason Gates
Maeve McGuire	...	Ann Gates
Stephen Singer	...	Effete Man at Met
Laurinda Barrett	...	Met Woman #1
Aideen O'Kelly	...	Met Woman #2
Reed Birney	...	Merchant Prince #1
Robert Vincent Smith	...	Merchant Prince #2
Bill Ambrozy	...	Merchant Prince #3
George Blumenthal	...	Merchant Prince #4 (as George S. Blumenthal)
Iris Braydon	...	Guest at Met (as Iris Alten)
Marion Blumenthal	...	Guest at Met
Andrew Sussman	...	Guest at Met
Robynn N. Sussmann	...	Guest at Met
Radney Tucker	...	Guest at Met
Beverly Tucker	...	Guest at Met
Bradford Billet	...	Guest at Met
Robert Bosco Cokljat	...	Croatian Delegate
Marat Yusim	...	Russian Delegate
Lee Wong	...	Japanese Diplomat
Roberta Orlandi	...	Italian Diplomat (as Roberta Orlan)
Francis Dumaurier	...	French Delegate
Deen Badarou	...	African Delegate
Peter Benson	...	Hansen
Jeff Williams	...	Nolan
David Eigenberg	...	Stein
Jean De Baer	...	Secretary (as Jean Debaer)
Michel Moinot	...	Maitre d'
Gerrit Vooren	...	Waiter
Monica Parker	...	Janice Moran
Michael H. Ingram	...	Albert
Scott Dillin	...	Detective Scott
Starla Benford	...	Police Technican
Bob Bowersox	...	Police Photographer
Joanna Adler	...	Vyczowski (as Joanna P. Adler)
James Georgiades	...	Policeman #2
José Ramón Rosario	...	Policeman #1
Gerry Becker	...	Roger Brill
William Bogert	...	Harrington
Adrian Martinez	...	Young Tough
Dexter Brown	...	Porter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kelly AuCoin	...	Waiter at Met (uncredited)
Jason Cicardo	...	Subway Scene (uncredited)
Bill Corsair	...	Man In Taxi Dispute (uncredited)
Christopher Del Gaudio	...	Guest at Met (uncredited)
Marshall Factora	...	Patron in Coffee Shop (uncredited)
Barry Hirschberg	...	Background (uncredited)
Taylor McCall	...	Pedestrian In Park (uncredited)
Jack Mulcahy	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Todo Segalla	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Evis Xheneti	...	Student (uncredited)
Alex Ziwak	...	Blue Collar Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew Davis

Writing credits (WGA)
Frederick Knott		(play "Dial M for Murder")
Patrick Smith Kelly		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lowell D. Blank	....	associate producer (as Lowell Blank)
Stephen Brown	....	executive producer
Mitchell E. Dauterive	....	co-producer (as Mitchell Dauterive)
Nana Greenwald	....	co-producer
Anne Kopelson	....	producer
Arnold Kopelson	....	producer
Peter Macgregor-Scott	....	producer
Christopher Mankiewicz	....	producer
Lisa Reardon	....	associate producer
Teresa Tucker-Davies	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Dariusz Wolski

Film Editing by
Dov Hoenig
Dennis Virkler

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Patricia Woodbridge

Set Decoration by
Debra Schutt

Costume Design by
Ellen Mirojnick

Makeup Department
Caryn Brostoff	....	makeup artist
Milton Buras	....	key hair stylist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair designer: Mr. Douglas and Ms. Paltrow
Naomi Donne	....	key makeup artist
Tom Lucas	....	makeup artist: Mr. Douglas

Production Management
Jan Foster	....	unit production manager
Christopher DeFaria	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry Bronchtein	....	first assistant director
Amy Lauritsen	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Loeb	....	dga trainee
Jennifer Truelove	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Laura Brock	....	assistant art director (as Laura L. Brock)
Diana Burton	....	assistant property master
Joseph Garzero	....	scenic artist
George Hugel	....	construction coordinator
Darrell K. Keister	....	assistant art director
Martin Lasowitz	....	property master
Brick Mason	....	production illustrator
Charles E. McCarry	....	assistant art director
Timothy Metzger	....	leadperson (as Tim Metzger)
Richard Reseigne	....	construction coordinator
Jennifer B. Starke	....	art department coordinator (as Jennifer Starke)
Loren Weeks	....	assistant art director
JoAnn Atwood	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
David Blankenship	....	set designer (uncredited)
Greg Cattano	....	construction auditor (uncredited)
Tony Marks	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Alexandra Mazur	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)
Eric M. Metzger	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Peter Regnier	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Aulicino	....	assistant sound editor
Gary Blufer	....	sound editor
Lance Brown	....	sound designer
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bradley Clouse	....	assistant sound editor
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	dialogue editor
Scott Curtis	....	foley editor
Marc Deschaine	....	assistant adr editor
Michael Dressel	....	supervising foley editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Glenn Hoskinson	....	sound editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Lance Laurienzo	....	assistant adr editor
Matthew C. May	....	assistant sound editor (as Matthew May)
Joseph A. Mayer	....	supervising adr editor (as Joe Mayer)
Anthony Milch	....	dialogue editor (as Anthony R. Milch)
Steve Nelson	....	sound editor
Tom Nelson	....	production sound mixer
Jay Nierenberg	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist (as John B. Roesch)
Daniel Rosenblum	....	boom operator
Robert Schaper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Secrist	....	sound editor
Bruce Stambler	....	supervising sound editor
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising adr editor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Bernard Weiser	....	dialogue editor
Marshall Winn	....	dialogue editor
Scott Jones	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Brink	....	special effects coordinator (as Jeffrey S. Brink)
Rob Benevides	....	special effects makeup (uncredited)
Manex Efrem	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Nathan Lafionatis	....	computer consultant (uncredited)

Stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Dana Hee	....	stunts
Brendan Manning	....	stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	stunts
Michael Runyard	....	stunt coordinator
Chuck Zito	....	stunts
Kevin Arbouet	....	stunts (uncredited)
Andy Bennett	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dana Hee	....	stunt double: Gwyneth Paltrow (uncredited)
Michael Runyard	....	stunt double: Michael Douglas (uncredited)
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator: UK (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James R. Belletier	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Keith Bunting	....	best boy grip (as Keith M. Bunting)
Patrick Capone	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Morris Flam	....	chief lighting technician
Clay Liversidge	....	rigging chief lighting technician
Kevin McKenna	....	video assist operator
Tim Metivier	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Timothy Metivier)
Billy Patsos	....	key grip (as William Patsos)
Ronald Plant	....	rigging key grip (as Ron Plant)
James Pollard	....	dolly grip (as James H. Pollard)
Scott Rathner	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer (as Andy Schwartz)
Stephen St. John	....	Steadicam operator (as Steve St. John)
Stephen St. John	....	camera operator: "a" camera (as Steve St. John)
John Velez	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Bill Almeida	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Ashley Bond	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Deborah Brozina	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Mike House	....	grip: UK (uncredited)
Zsolt Kadar	....	film loader (uncredited)
William MacGhee	....	electrician (uncredited)
Hernan Otaño	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Charles Quinlivan	....	grip (uncredited)
Darren Ryan	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Howard Smith	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mercedes Kelso	....	casting associate (as Mercedes Danforth)
Elizabeth Lang	....	casting associate (as Elizabeth Lang Fedrick)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fran Allgood	....	costumer: Mr. Douglas
Laura Drawbaugh	....	assistant costume designer
Lisa R. Frucht	....	costume supervisor (as Lisa Frucht)
John Glaser	....	assistant costume designer (as John Walter Glaser III)
Amy Habacker	....	costumer (as Amy S. Habacker)
Monica Ruiz-Ziegler	....	wardrobe production assistant (as Monica Ruiz-Ziegley)
Deirdre N. Williams	....	costume supervisor (as Deirdre Williams)

Editorial Department
Guy Barresi	....	assistant editor
Richard Friedlander	....	assistant editor
Mario González	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Uri Katoni	....	first assistant editor
Nina Lucia	....	first assistant editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Matthew Schmidt	....	assistant editor (as Matt Schmidt)
Pax Wassermann	....	assistant editor
Mark S. Westmore	....	first assistant editor (as Mark Westmore)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Jim Hall	....	electronic score producer
James T. Hill	....	electronic score producer
James Newton Howard	....	orchestrator
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Shawn Murphy	....	score mixer
David Olson	....	music editor
Jim Weidman	....	supervising music editor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Kevin Flynn	....	transportation captain
Kevin Keefe	....	transportation coordinator
Edward Devereaux II	....	driver: honeywagon (uncredited)

Other crew
Irvin Andrew	....	staff assistant
Gail Barringer	....	production accountant
Alison Benson	....	staff assistant
Gene Benus	....	staff assistant
Robert C. Campion	....	production controller
Dru Anne Carlson	....	script supervisor (as Drucilla A. Carlson)
Joseph G. Eckardt	....	staff assistant
Dylan Firshein	....	staff assistant
David Hall	....	staff assistant
Kali R. Harrison	....	staff assistant (as Kali Rashad Harrison)
Una Hill	....	staff assistant
Lauren Iungerich	....	assistant: Mr. Kopelson
Jay Johnson	....	title designer
Lori Johnson	....	production associate
TC Kilpper	....	assistant: Mr. Davis
Chanda Kochie	....	assistant: Ms. Paltrow
Nancy Kolomitz	....	staff assistant (as Nancy L. Kolomitz)
Paul Kramer	....	assistant location manager
Robert Kravitz	....	staff assistant
John Kreidman	....	assistant production associate
Apoorva Lakhia	....	staff assistant
Chris T. Margiano	....	craft service
David Martin	....	staff assistant
Michael McKenna	....	craft service
Jamie Midgley	....	assistant: Mr. Douglas
Maria Norman	....	executive assistant: Mr. Kopelson
Claudia O'Hehir	....	executive assistant: Ms. Kopelson
Evan Perazzo	....	staff assistant
Liz Radley	....	video and graphics supervisor (as Elizabeth Radley)
Holly S. Rymon	....	assistant production associate (as Holly Rymon)
Sandeep Sharma	....	staff assistant
Jamie Sheridan	....	staff assistant
Marc Siegel	....	staff assistant
Michael Singer	....	unit publicist
Kelly Solomon	....	staff assistant
Marce Sterner	....	staff assistant (as Marcellin Sterner)
Michael Stricks	....	location manager
Meghan Sea Treese	....	assistant: Mr. Brown
Chuck Trimbach	....	assistant: Mr. Kopelson (as Charles Trimbach)
Holly Watson	....	production secretary
Lara Wood	....	assistant: Mr. Brown
Heathar Wynne	....	medic
Judi Beecher	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Charles Bodycomb	....	armorer (uncredited)
Casey Cavalier	....	staff assistant: Mr. Davis (uncredited)
Matthew Gross	....	production executive (uncredited)
Joseph Lombardi	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
David Ray Martin	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan Roumie	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Howard Samuelsohn	....	dialect coach (uncredited)

Thanks
Dennis Hopper	....	thanks: for genereous cooperation in allowing their workspace to appear in this film
Viggo Mortensen	....	thanks: for genereous cooperation in allowing their artwork created in this film

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (as Warner Bros.)
• Kopelson Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (1998) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1998) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A. (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (2000) (USA) (TV)
• Net5 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (Finland) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  movie studio
• Avilon Audio  commentary recording engineering
• Cable News Network (CNN)  news footage provided by (as CNN)
• Cartier  selected jewellery
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Corbis  special thanks (as Corbis-Bettmann)
• Gala Catering  catering
• International Business Machines (IBM)  computer equipment
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Sylvia Fay Casting  extras casting
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• Technicolor  color and prints
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"Dial M" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:16 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

This was a very liberal remake of Alfred Hitchcock thriller Dial M for Murder (1954) based on a play by Frederick Knott.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Emily is questioned at the police station, her turtleneck sweater keeps moving around. Sometimes it's unrolled practically up to her eyes, while other times it's pushed down to her chin.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Steven:There you are. And how was your day? Any progress in saving the world?
Emily:I'm working on it.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Park Jam

Disappointed

Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" was a movie to be remembered, but this remake was a disappointment. It had real potential, and would have been great, had they taken advantage of David Suchet's great acting ability, and his character, which was a central character in the original film. But instead, they relegated his character to the background, and then, to and insult to injury, changed the Hitchcock ending from a sizzle, to a fizzle. Worth seeing, but nothing compared to the original.