The Movie Vault: Mystery, Hitchcock Style

It's the perfect murder. Or so he thinks.

Retired tennis pro, Tony Wendice (Ray Millard) has taken the time to plan every detail of his wife's murder. He's recruited the killer, stashed away the money to pay his hit man, even timed the phone call down to the exact minute. The phone call that will signal his hired hand to carry out the evil deed. Yet, there's just one thing he didn't account for. One thing that will send all of his planning, all of his plotting, all of his scheming spiraling out of control. That one thing being: she fought back. And, as a result, it's the man he's hired, not his wife, that ends up dead.

In my opinion, Dial M for Murder is one of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of mystery's, best. Set entirely in an apartment, this film gets its strength from story. There are no great locations, no daring stunts, and no low flying crop dusters (sorry, there's no Cary Grant either). Based on a play, it's lack of bells and whistles is far from missed. It is brillantly written, wonderfully directed, and is Grace Kelly in all her splendor.

Released in 1954, it is a must see for any mystery lover. Few movies in this genre compare, or can compete, with Dial M for Murder in all its simplicity and complexity rolled into one.