- Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder is one of the most impressive cinematic explorations of that hypothetical mystery staple, "the perfect murder." We can guess the motive for the potential crime even before the film's first line, as we are treated to consecutive shots of Margot Wendice (Grace Kelly) kissing different men at different times in the same room. The first man is her husband, Tony Wendice (Ray Milland), a former tennis player who has recently transformed himself into a loving and attentive husband. The reason for his conversion, however, was that he became aware of Margot's onetime love affair with the second man, American crime novelist Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings). By his own admission, Tony was once so upset that he actually planned to murder Margot, but then he saw something that changed his mind. That something was a weasel-faced man named Swann (Anthony Dawson).
- So, how did Swann change Tony's mind? When Tony first asks Swann (or should I say Captain Lesgate?) over to the house, it's not obvious that he has anything more in mind than a night of haggling over the price of a car. As the riveting scene progresses, however, both the audience and Swann begin to realize that rather more is at stake. It turns out that Tony recalled Swann from his days at Cambridge, where Swann's name had been associated with some missing treasury funds. Supposing him once a crook, always a crook, Tony tracked him through London, eventually uncovering his involvement in several sorts of disreputable activities. Soon the various threads were strong enough to bind, and Tony knew he had found someone else who would kill Margot. "What makes you think I'll agree?" asks Swann. "For the same reason that a donkey with a stick behind him and a carrot in front always goes forwards and not backwards," Tony coolly replies.
- The plan is set into motion on the following evening, as Swann employs a seemingly insignificant hidden key to enter the Wendice household. There, he awaits Tony's phone call that will lure Margot to the phone, where the deed will be done. After an amusing delay caused by Tony's unwound watch, the phone rings, Margot awakens, Swann goes to strangle her, and...well, let's just say that things don't go quite according to plan. Now Tony is caught having to explain why he called Margot, who is upset but very much alive. Although he has a chance to manipulate the crime scene before the police arrive, we can't help but recall Mark's comment from earlier in the film: "I'm afraid my murders would be something like my bridge. I'd make some stupid mistake and never realize it until I found everybody was looking at me."
- The film's second half introduces the admirably thorough Chief Inspector Hubbard (John Williams), whose job it is to sort through this mess. Could it be that Margot killed Swann because of blackmail, as Tony's planted evidence would suggest? That's the story a jury believes, at least, and Margot is rather expediently placed on death row. Of course nobody outside of a jury room would ever believe that Grace Kelly was a murderer, so Mark and Inspector Hubbard combine their considerable acumen to discover what really happened. As it turns out, a stray key is able to unlock this particular case, and Tony's final mistake indeed leaves everyone staring.
- I'm always surprised that Dial M for Murder is such an enjoyable film to watch. Most of the film is dialogue-heavy, it is set almost entirely in one location, and the key subplot is exceedingly complex. Handled incorrectly, any one of these traits could have transformed the film into a rather laborious police procedural. Fortunately, the master of suspense did not allow that to happen. Because of the superb direction, excellent script, and talented cast, particularly the delightfully smug Ray Milland and the always likable John Williams, every scene is an absolute treat to watch. The scene in which Tony recruits Swann lasts for 22 minutes, and it consists almost entirely of an actionless conversation between two men. It could have gone on for another twenty minutes, and I wouldn't have minded. Same for the attempted murder scene. In that sense, it's almost a letdown when Tony finally trips up, because it means I've reached the end of such a great film.
- I spotted Hitchcock in the reunion photo.
