Dial M for Murder

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Dial M for Murder

PG

1954

1h 45m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

46 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

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

Apr 16, 2020

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.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

Jul 26, 2013

3/5

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.

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Peter Bradshaw

Guardian

Jul 25, 2013

4/5

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

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 4, 2025

3.5/4

Dial M for Murder is often dismissed as lesser Hitchcock, yet its intricate plot and sterling performances thrill me every time I watch it.

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Jan 3, 2023

4/5

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.

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Aug 20, 2022

4.5/5

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

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Meloney

Oct 23, 2025

Such a classic. I saw it in 3D, and I would have preferred just the regular viewing. Otherwise, enjoyed it very much.

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darlene r

Aug 19, 2024

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

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Kevin

May 8, 2024

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

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Max M

@Househuntermax 3 days ago

Yeah, I know it’s got a cool title and it’s Hitchcock, but I just thought it felt too much like a stage play. Not enough of a cinematic element to keep me engaged.

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Eye C

@ECinc Oct 15, 2026

An excellent thriller so well written, with an exquisite direction, just for the cast to perform amazingly.

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AC C

@Mon_Alisa Sep 21, 2026

Dial M makes me want to take a film class. It feels simple until you realize nearly 100% of it is shot in their single flat yet doesn’t feel claustrophobic. The angles, shadows, even color (only Hitchcock’s 3rd color film) bring the setting and scenes alive. Grace Kelly is superb as always & John Williams’ mustache swagger steals the 2nd half!

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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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