An ex-tennis pro carries out a plot to have his wife murdered after discovering she is having an affair, and assumes she will soon leave him for the other man anyway. When things go wrong, he improvises a new plan—to frame her for murder instead.
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award5 wins & 3 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
[Hitchcock] tried once before, in Rope, to build up a whole continuous drama in one set. He wasn't as successful in that venture. Dial M has all the space it needs.
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
It all moves along in a rather efficient if lifeless fashion, with only John Williams shining as a canny police detective.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
4 Jan 2007
fresh:
The screenplay tends to constrain rather than liberate Hitchcock's thematic thrust, but there is much of technical value in his geometric survey of the scene and the elaborate strategies employed to transfer audience sympathy among the main characters.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
2 Jan 2008
rotten:
Dial M remains more of a filmed play than a motion picture, unfortunately revealed as a conversation piece about murder which talks up much more suspense than it actually delivers.
– Variety Staff,
Variety,
2 Jan 2008
fresh:
Dial M is less a filmed play than a highly cinematic investigation of theatricality.