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Dial M for Murder

  • 19541954
  • PGPG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
173K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,187
303
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Grace Kelly and Anthony Dawson in Dial M for Murder (1954)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Bros. Pictures
Play trailer2:34
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Crime
  • Thriller

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.

IMDb RATING
8.2/10
173K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,187
303
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writer
    • Frederick Knott(screen play by)
  • Stars
    • Ray Milland
    • Grace Kelly
    • Robert Cummings
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writer
    • Frederick Knott(screen play by)
  • Stars
    • Ray Milland
    • Grace Kelly
    • Robert Cummings
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 409User reviews
    • 113Critic reviews
    • 75Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #162
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 5 wins & 3 nominations total

    Videos2

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

    Photos191

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

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In London, wealthy Margot Mary Wendice had a brief love affair with the American writer Mark Halliday while her husband and professional tennis player Tony Wendice was on a tennis tour. Tony quits playing to dedicate to his wife and finds a regular job. She decides to give him a second chance for their marriage. When Mark arrives from America to visit the couple, Margot tells him that she had destroyed all his letters but one that was stolen. Subsequently she was blackmailed, but she had never retrieved the stolen letter. Tony arrives home, claims that he needs to work and asks Margot to go with Mark to the theater. Meanwhile Tony calls Captain Lesgate (aka Charles Alexander Swann who studied with him at college) and blackmails him to murder his wife, so that he can inherit her fortune. But there is no perfect crime, and things do not work as planned. —Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
    • blackmail
    • murder
    • tennis player
    • love letter
    • key
    • 183 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Kiss By Kiss...Supreme Suspense Unfurls!
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      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 reviews409

    Review
    Top review
    Excellent Hitchcock thriller
    Surprisingly this is a lesser-known Hitchcock film but still stands up today as an exciting thriller full of twists and turns.

    Ray Milland is excellent as ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice who decides to commit the perfect murder of his wife (Grace Kelly) when he learns of her affair with Robert Cummings (who isn't given much to do). In fact, Milland's subtle performance has you wanting the murder plot to work! Though it has to be said, Kelly's helpless female turn does not help in this regard either.

    Hitchcock's skill here is to totally involve the viewer in the labyrinthine plot involving keys, telephone calls and stockings so that at the end of the film you haven't even noticed that virtually all the scenes are in one room.

    If you like clever, wordy films with a touch of humour then I recommend `Dial M For Murder'. 8/10
    helpful•31
    18
    • philipborrington
    • Jan 17, 2002

    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
      • $31,207
    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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