Dial M for Murder
September 17, 2006
"Dial M For Murder"
1954, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Film adaptations of stage plays usually go one of two ways: The director attempts to open up the production into new locations, often ruining the mood of the original work and ending up with a tacked together monstrosity, or the director basically films the play, hardly moving outside of the single location and basically making the film pointless. In "Dial M for Murder," Hitchcock finds the balance necessary to make a stage play work as a film. While most of the action takes place in a single room, Hitchcock takes advantage of every space in that room, moving the camera to odd angles that not only break up the monotony but also help illuminate the plot. And it is one hell of a plot, detailing a genius plan concocted by a former tennis pro to kill his rich wife, then when that plan goes awry following the ingenious back-up plan he improvises. It's almost scary how good Ray Milland is in the role of the husband, while Grace Kelly brings the requisite Hollywood glamour to the role as his wife. Robert Cummings, as Kelly's American lover, does very little with an underwritten character, but John Williams is solid as Chief Inspector Hubbard. While not an out-and-out thriller, this is one of the best pure mysteries ever put to film. (Quick note on the film itself: It was originally shot in 3-D, but only received a limited release in that format before being released in flat-screen. The high number of low-angle shots and close-ups of objects were done for the effect they would have in 3-D, but unlike most 3-D films released flat, these shots enhance the film's power, rather than distracting from it).
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