A Perfect Murder (1998)

A wealthy Wall Street speculator discovers that his wife has a lover. He investigates him and uses the carrot and stick to make him murder his wife. Planned to detail, it seems like a perfect murder.

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers:

Frederick Knott (play), Patrick Smith Kelly (screenplay)

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Millionaire industrialist Steven Taylor is a man who has everything but what he craves most: the love and fidelity of his wife. A hugely successful player in the New York financial world, he considers her to be his most treasured acquisition. But she needs more than simply the role of dazzling accessory. Brilliant in her own right, she works at the U.N. and is involved with a struggling artist who fulfills her emotional needs. When her husband discovers her indiscretion, he sets out to commit the perfect murder and inherit her considerable trust fund in the bargain.

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Plot Keywords:

woman in jeopardy | money | urban setting | murder | shoebox | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English Arabic

Release Date:

5 June 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dial M for Murder

Filming Locations:

The Convent of the Sacred Heart, 1 East 91st Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,615,704, 7 June 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$67,638,368

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$128,038,368

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Kopelson Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the artworks featured in this film are Mortensen's own.

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Goofs

Since the 1990s and the elimination of the "Montrealer", Amtrak does not offer night service to Montreal, nor are there sleeper cars on the trains. The only overland train route to that city on Amtrak is the "Adirondack", a morning train that is all coach seats.

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Quotes

David Shaw: [standing in front of Steven's desk] When's this card game of yours?
Steven: Tomorrow evening.
David Shaw: Tomorrow? No fucking way!

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Alternate Versions

The DVD includes alternate endings in which the protagonists behave differently prior to the final denouement.

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Connections

Version of Dial M for Murder (1967)

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Soundtracks

Black Alley Rap
Written by Chris 'Hambone' Cameron, Richard Davis, and Stevie Butler
Performed by Stevie Butler

User Reviews

A passable remake of Hicthcock's ‘Dial M for Murder'

A Perfect Murder ( a loose remake of ‘Dial M for Murder ) is a

stylish thriller in its own right ,but doesn't come close to the

original. As I remember and not to give away any of the plot, ‘Dial

‘M' is all about the key. Where it is hidden, Who knew it was there,

and who finds it. This plot line is gripping, but in ‘Perfect Murder'

this whole part of the story has been overlooked. Having said that

the film still works quite well, thanks to Michael Douglas. He really

is superb. Gwyneth Palthrow looks stunning, but David Suchet is

wasted as the detective. But where the film really falls down is the

ending. In the original the last scenes are gripping in the hunt for

the key, but for some reason director Andrew Davis sees fit to end

with the standard formula of a shoot out. Having said that the film

is still worth seeing, but if you need to watch this story, I

recommend the original.