ViewGuide

Created Oct 29, 2012 10:40PM PST • Edited Dec 21, 2019 10:33AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Dial M for Murder is lesser Hitchcock, yet worth watching for its classic tropes, timeless title and for Grace Kelly. But, the convoluted and constrained plot is insufficiently removed from its stage play roots.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Grace Kelly creates an indelible image as a perfectly lovely golden lady caught in a bad love triangle. While not up to her Olympian performance in Rear Window, she’s still a quintessential Hitch blond.

   Ray Milland is smoothly creepy as her murderous husband,
   Robert Cummings smoothly charming as her paramour.

   Anthony Dawson is striking as a reluctant murderer-for-hire,
   John Williams a classic Chief Inspector from Scotland Yard.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Great 4.0

   The future Princess Grace

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    Most Hitchcock plays as well today as half a century ago. Not this film.

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play OK 2.5

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals OK 2.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.2

17. Sex Innocent 1.0

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.9

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0