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Nebs
Joined: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:01 pm Posts: 6385
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 Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder Quote: Dial M for Murder is a 1954 American thriller film adapted from a successful stage play and directed by Alfred Hitchcock and released by Warner Bros. It stars Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, and Robert Cummings.
The screenplay and the stage play on which it was based were both written by English playwright Frederick Knott (1916–2002), whose work often focuses on women who innocently become the potential victims of sinister plots. The original play premiered in 1952 on BBC television, before being performed on the stage in the same year in London's West End in June, and then New York's Broadway in October.
The single setting in the stage play is the living-room of the Wendices' flat in London (61A Charrington Gardens, Maida Vale). Hitchcock's film adds a second setting in a gentleman's club, a few views of the street outside, and a stylized courtroom montage. Having seen the play on Broadway, Cary Grant was keen to play the role of Tony Wendice, but studio chiefs did not feel the public would accept him as a man who arranges to have his wife murdered.
In June 2008, the American Film Institute revealed its "Ten Top Ten" list—the best ten films in ten "classic" American film genres—after polling over 1,500 people from the creative community. Dial M for Murder was ranked the ninth best film in the mystery genre.
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Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:36 am |
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trixster
loyalfromlondon
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm Posts: 19697 Location: ville-marie
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
Not Hitchcock's best, but the script is fantastic and the actors are terrific. It's fairly obvious that it's based on a play, as there's really only one setting, and not much room for Hitch's camera to work its magic, but he does great work anyway and the story is more than enough to keep the film riveting. It's hard to keep up, but if you do, it's well worth it at the end. Grace Kelly is as beautiful as ever and Ray Milland gives a terrifically villainous performance without resorting to overacting. Could be Hitch's most underrated work.
_________________Magic Mike wrote: zwackerm wrote: If John Wick 2 even makes 30 million I will eat 1,000 shoes. Same. Algren wrote: I don't think. I predict. 
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Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:23 pm |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm Posts: 92093 Location: Bonn, Germany
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A-
So I'm finally getting into the really good stuff. Up until not long ago, I haven't seen a single Hitchcock film save for Birds and Psycho (but the latter is too long ago for me to remember anything except for the key scenes). In the recent time I decide that I should catch up on all of them at last. Some I liked, some I found to be quite overrated (well, basically the latter applies just to Vertigo which is probably the worst Hitchcock I have seen thus far...which still makes for a solid film with a great twist!).
Dial M for Murder is without a dobt the best Hitchcok flick I have seen thus far (others being Vertigo, Spellbound, Frenzy and the aforementioned Birds). It is quite obvious that the film is based on a play as seen by the limited setting and play-like dialogues, but what Hitchcock makes out of it is a great piece of filmmaking. It was only towarss the very end of the film that I noticed that we almost never got out of the one room where all the action takes place in. The directing is vital and innovative and makes you forget all that. The camera work here is more subtle than in other Hitchcock films, yet still masterful. The whole thing is splendidly edited and despite the entire film consisting of dialogues I never felt bored even for a second.
I still don't understand why Grace Kelly garnered so much praise for her role as I found her to be rather forgettable when compared to the ingenious acting by Ray Milland who makes for an excellent villain in this piece. The way he talks about doing all the evil things with a smile on his face...the delivery of the lines is simply pitch-perfect. The supporting roles are very fine too.
The storyline is really simple and the resolution is nothing you don't really seecoming (though the whole twist with the key is rather great), but it's the way Hitchcock shot the entire thing paried with flawless acting by Milland which elevates the movie above other Hitch-directing films I have seen so far.
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Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:09 pm |
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movies35
Forum General
Joined: Thu Nov 11, 2004 1:53 pm Posts: 8627 Location: Syracuse, NY
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
My favorite Hitchcock movie, and yes, I've seen Psycho.
9/10 (A)
_________________ Top 10 Films of 2016
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Thu Dec 06, 2007 5:00 pm |
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Riggs
We had our time together
Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 4:36 am Posts: 13299 Location: Vienna
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
I really liked it. Very suspensful from start to finish but I thought Grace Kelly was terrible.
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Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:36 pm |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 68357
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Dial M for Murder
Superb film-making! A real delight to watch the fantastic script and criminal workings played out in traditional upper class British society. This shoots straight to the top 3 of my favourite Hitchcock movies. Ray Milland is fantastic, and very much like my other favourite Hitchcock star, James Stewart. Grace Kelly is beautiful but ultimately just a dame to look, and then there's the police inspector, played by John Williams, who is just great to watch. I adore movies that focus on dialogue, and make you, the viewer, use your brain, rather than some effect or gimmick. I miss the days of talented film-making like this. This will spur me on to watch those other Hitchcock movies that I've always put off. I am so glad I've finally seen it. It was also really suspensful.
Two points I find rather interesting; When i watching Ray Milland, I couldn't notice that perhaps Michael Fassbender moulded his Lt. Archie Hicox from Inglourious Basterds on him. Also, I thought that perhaps A Perfect Murder was a remake of this.
A
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Sat Dec 28, 2013 6:26 am |
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Lucky
The Incredible Hulk
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 6:50 am Posts: 514
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
A Perfect Murder is a remake of Dial M for Murder.
I enjoy both films.
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Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:05 pm |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm Posts: 92093 Location: Bonn, Germany
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
Still loving it.
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:16 pm |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 68357
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
Lucky wrote: A Perfect Murder is a remake of Dial M for Murder. Yep, it had to be. A Perfect Murder is also great.
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Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:20 am |
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snack
Extraordinary
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:18 pm Posts: 12159
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
which did you guys see i only saw the 3d one
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Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:43 pm |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 68357
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
Obviously I didn't see the 3D one. snack, how old are you?
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Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:45 am |
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snack
Extraordinary
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:18 pm Posts: 12159
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
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Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:26 am |
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Algren
now we know
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm Posts: 68357
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
You're that old!? Wow. Didn't know anybody could be that old.
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Mon Dec 30, 2013 7:45 am |
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Chippy
KJ's Leading Pundit
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm Posts: 63026 Location: Tonight... YOU!
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 Re: Dial M for Murder
Magnus wrote: I believe this was the first Hitchcock film I ever saw so it holds a special place for me. Been a while since I've seen it, but I have fond memories of it. This.
_________________trixster wrote: shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element trixster wrote: chippy is correct
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Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:57 am |
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