Dial M for Murder

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Dial M for Murder

PG

Released May 29, 1954

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

90%

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48 Reviews

92%

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25,000+ Ratings

Ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) wants to have his wealthy wife, Margot (Grace Kelly), murdered so he can get his hands on her inheritance. When he discovers her affair with Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), he comes up with the perfect plan to kill her. He blackmails an old acquaintance into carrying out the murder, but the carefully-orchestrated set-up goes awry, and Margot stays alive. Now Wendice must frantically scheme to outwit the police and avoid having his plot detected.

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Critics Consensus

Dial M for Murder may be slightly off-peak Hitchcock, but by any other standard, it's a sophisticated, chillingly sinister thriller -- and one that boasts an unforgettable performance from Grace Kelly to boot.

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Derwent May

Sight & Sound

Ray Milland is sufficiently suave as the misbegotten genius, and Hitchcock has moved about very sure-footedlv on what continues to be for the most part just a stage.

Apr 16, 2020

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Ray Milland is great as cold fish Tony Wendice, a former tennis pro who plans to bump off his adulterous wife. Still, Grace Kelly is mis-cast (or misdirected) as the spouse in question.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 26, 2013

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

The set-up is ingenious and the "kill" scene genuinely thrilling.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 25, 2013

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dial M for Murder is never short of suspense and the master of suspense's first of three films with Grace Kelly is among the top tier of Hitchcock's filmography.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 3, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The story never trips over itself and Hitchcock let’s Knott’s script do most of the heavy lifting.

Rated: 4.5/5

Aug 20, 2022

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Alan Jones

Starburst

It is probably the only 3D film that truly realizes the potential of what such a misused medium can offer a talented director.

Aug 1, 2022

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darlene r

First time seeing this movie. My favorite Hitchcock so far. Stunning acting

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

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Kevin

Absolutely one of Hitchcocks best movies, seen it 25 times and it never gets old.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/08/24

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JoParkerBear P

As a Hitchcock fan, it’s one of his best.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/28/25

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Matheus F

Shout out to John Williams and Grace Kelly. One of my favorite movies of the master Hitchcock.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

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Jacopo D

Come il delitto, anche il film è perfetto

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

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Luis I

Classic Hitchcock through and through. This film takes the director’s familiar theme of couple power dynamics and takes it into the realm of murder. While it may not stand out as one of his most celebrated works, it’s still a sharply executed crime story. The writing is precise and purposeful, revealing key details at just the right moments and allowing us to follow the characters’ quick thinking and deductions with ease. One character in the love triangle could have been given more prominence, especially given his stake in the conflict, but he’s somewhat sidelined by another figure with less at risk. The resolution also leans on what could be seen as a convenient turn of events. These are minor nitpicks in an otherwise tightly woven plot. It’s impressive how the film keeps us engaged from the opening beats while rarely leaving the confines of a single apartment. Hitchcock’s camerawork reinforces the tension; close-ups and inserts guide us through the details of the plan as it’s formed and set in motion. Performances land effectively, even if they carry the style of their time, which might feel dated to some viewers. The central murder may appear a bit implausible to modern audiences, but that’s largely due to the constraints on how violence could be portrayed at the time. Focus instead on the craftsmanship, and the film reveals glimpses of Hitchcock’s genius. It’s consistently engaging, keeping us guessing at every turn. A must-watch for fans of the genre, and, of course, of Hitchcock himself.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

Full Review

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Ray Milland

Tony Wendice

Grace Kelly

Margot Mary Wendice

Bob Cummings

Mark Halliday

John Williams

Chief Insp. Hubbard

Anthony Dawson

Charles Alexander Swann

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Synopsis

Ex-tennis pro Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) wants to have his wealthy wife, Margot (Grace Kelly), murdered so he can get his hands on her inheritance. When he discovers her affair with Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), he comes up with the perfect plan to kill her. He blackmails an old acquaintance into carrying out the murder, but the carefully-orchestrated set-up goes awry, and Margot stays alive. Now Wendice must frantically scheme to outwit the police and avoid having his plot detected.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Frederick Knott
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers
Rating: PG
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 29, 1954, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 15, 2008
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Mono

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