Nothing hurts a man more than the fact that his wife is having an affair. More than his manhood, it hurts his love and emotions which are usually subtly tabled, not openly expressed. Dial M For Murder is thriller woven around a man’s vengeance against a cheating wife, directed by perhaps the biggest and most respected name in the genre- Alfred Hitchcock. Based on a stage play, the movie is largely shot in living room of the central characters- the husband Tony Wendice and his beautiful wife- Margot.
Within 15 minutes into the movie, one realize that Margot who had a fling with novelist Mark Halliday, has decided to mend her ways. Unaware of her intentions, her husband still believe that she is steady in her affair. When Mark comes to meet her, Tony decides to put a lid on the story, forever. He hires con Swann, a college-mate of his. Swann reluctantly takes the job. But he fails and is murdered in self-defense by Margot. Tables had turned and Tony finds himself cornered. Will his secret come out or will he come out of it, unscathed? Watch this movie. It’s one of those movies which can make you rewind the tape.
Speaking of performances, there are four characters and they all delivered good, especially Ray Milland who plays the role of suspecting husband. As a scheming person he looks convincing and as romantic, he is really charming. In the last scene, in particular, he excels. Screenplay deserved a special mention. Though shot almost entirely in a room, the movie rely a lot on how the dialogues come up and are delivered on screen. The way thrill is kept intact till very end of the movie, it’s a case study for all script writers. Direction: you don’t comment on Hitchcock. Its blasphemy.
Written By: Sujoy Ghosh
