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IMDbPro

Dial M for Murder

  • 1954
  • PG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
181K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,547
282
Grace Kelly and Anthony Dawson in Dial M for Murder (1954)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer2:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
CrimeThriller

A former tennis star arranges the murder of his adulterous wife.A former tennis star arranges the murder of his adulterous wife.A former tennis star arranges the murder of his adulterous wife.

  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writer
    • Frederick Knott
  • Stars
    • Ray Milland
    • Grace Kelly
    • Robert Cummings
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    181K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,547
    282
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writer
      • Frederick Knott
    • Stars
      • Ray Milland
      • Grace Kelly
      • Robert Cummings
    • 422User reviews
    • 117Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #161
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 5 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

    Dial M For Murder
    Trailer 2:34
    Watch Dial M For Murder
    A Guide to the Films of Alfred Hitchcock
    Clip 2:27
    Watch A Guide to the Films of Alfred Hitchcock

    Photos195

    Grace Kelly in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and Robert Cummings in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    Grace Kelly in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    Grace Kelly and Anthony Dawson in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    Grace Kelly, Ray Milland, and John Williams in Dial M for Murder (1954)
    "Dial M For Murder," Ray Millano and Grace Kelly. 1954 Warner Bros.
    "Dial M For Murder," Robert Cummings and Grace Kelly. 1954 Warner Bros
    "Dial M For Murder," Grace Kelly. 1954 Warner Bros
    "Dial M For Murder," Ray Milland, Grace Kellu, Robert Cummings. 1954 Warner Bros
    "Dial M For Murder," Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Anthony Dawson. 1954 Warner Bros
    "Dial M For Murder," Ray Milland 1954 Warner Bros

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • Tony Wendice
    Grace Kelly
    Grace Kelly
    • Margot Wendice
    Robert Cummings
    Robert Cummings
    • Mark Halliday
    John Williams
    John Williams
    • Chief Inspector Hubbard
    Anthony Dawson
    Anthony Dawson
    • Charles Swann
    Leo Britt
    • The Storyteller
    Patrick Allen
    Patrick Allen
    • Detective Pearson
    George Leigh
    • Detective Williams
    George Alderson
    • First Detective
    Robin Hughes
    Robin Hughes
    • Police Sergeant O'Brien
    Richard Bender
    • Banquet Member
    • (uncredited)
    Robin Sanders Clark
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Jack Cunningham
    • Bobby Outside Flat
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Dobson
    • Police Photographer
    • (uncredited)
    Guy Doleman
    Guy Doleman
    • Detective
    • (uncredited)
    Bess Flowers
    Bess Flowers
    • Woman Departing Ship
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Garvin
    • Banquet Member
    • (uncredited)
    Herschel Graham
    Herschel Graham
    • Banquet Member
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writer
      • Frederick Knott
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Alfred Hitchcock had chosen a very expensive robe for Grace Kelly to wear when she answered the phone. Kelly balked and said that no woman would put on such a robe just to answer the ringing telephone while she was asleep alone; she would answer it in her nightgown. Hitchcock agreed to do it her way and liked the way the rushes turned out, and he allowed Kelly to make all costume decisions for herself in their subsequent movies together.
    • Goofs
      (at around 24 mins) Wendice throws a £100 bundle on a pink armchair. The money falls right at the back of the seat. A few minutes later, Swann takes the money which is now right in front of the armchair.
    • Quotes

      Tony Wendice: How do you go about writing a detective story?

      Mark Halliday: Well, you forget detection and concentrate on crime. Crime's the thing. And then you imagine you're going to steal something or murder somebody.

      Tony Wendice: Oh, is that how you do it? It's interesting.

      Mark Halliday: Yes, I usually put myself in the criminal's shoes and then I keep asking myself, uh, what do I do next?

      Margot Mary Wendice: Do you really believe in the perfect murder?

      Mark Halliday: Mmm, yes, absolutely. On paper, that is. And I think I could, uh, plan one better than most people; but I doubt if I could carry it out.

      Tony Wendice: Oh? Why not?

      Mark Halliday: Well, because in stories things usually turn out the way the author wants them to; and in real life they don't... always.

      Tony Wendice: Hmm.

      Mark Halliday: No, I'm afraid my murders would be something like my bridge: I'd make some stupid mistake and never realize it until I found everybody was looking at me.

    • Crazy credits
      The title is shown on a background of a British telephone dial; its MNO marking is replaced by a single large M which forms the single M of the title.
    • Alternate versions
      The film had an intermission in its original 3-D release, although it is less than two hours in length.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)

    User reviews422

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Excellent
    What gets me about this film every time I see it is just how simple it is. The witty urbanity of the dialogue goes without saying (hem), the acting is stagily impeccable, and the direction by Hitchcock is limited by the small sets but masterful for all that.

    Cold Ray Milland plans and sets up the murder of his demure but faithless wife Grace Kelly by a virtual stranger who is urged on by the stick of exposure of his misdeeds and the carrot of GBP1,000 in used notes. Of course all of his convoluted plans go horribly or thankfully wrong, depending on your point of view, leading to an even more convoluted revised plan. When first seen when young I wasted my time because I wasn't paying attention at the critical moment so missed the point and didn't get it: the key is how did the baddie get into the apartment? It's incredibly verbose, being from a stage play after all and at times it seems nothing more than a radio show with pictures. The long scene setting and verbal sparring by Milland and Anthony Dawson is superb to hear - it's fascinating for its relentless poetry, and of displaying a now-dead world. I could never understand the attraction of 3D movies, least of all with this particular attempt, or why Kelly was continually uglified by the Hollywood machine when she never looked lovelier than in here when she was playing stressed out throughout.

    I wonder if Hitch remembered the jokey murder scene he did in 1930 in Elstree Calling when Jameson Thomas realised he was murdering in the wrong apartment? Turn that key you have and go in, it's a remarkably literate film and as intricate inside as any lock.
    helpful•28
    8
    • Spondonman
    • Jan 21, 2013

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    FAQ11

    • What is 'Dial M for Murder' about?
    • Is 'dial M for Murder' based on a book?
    • Why dial "M"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 29, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 5, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,400,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $24,845
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,562
      • Apr 11, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $42,915
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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