It's 1954, all the actors speak like they're in a commercial but what a brilliant story well told. Constantly having to think on his feet Ray Milland's character is slick and totally believable. The ending is extremely clever. No matter how old you are you will appreciate this movie.

I really have never been able to like Grace Kelly - everything I have seen her in seems to be the same character. There are lots of movie stars from that era that are the same but she is just annoying. That said Dial M for Murder is a satisfying plot, obviously from the stage originally but it works on film. Robert Cummings is another milk-white nonentity in this movie who fits well as Kelly's lover - the best thing about it is Ray Milland, a somewhat underrated actor. John Williams , too is excellent as the inspector and provides the undercurrent of humour throughout what is quite a dark tale. Hitchcock manages to draw out whatever suspense there is in the story - it is after all, his area of expertise.

Just a great movie to watch! Top notch Hitchcock! Loved the plot and loved the inspector! Especially his little mustache comb! A really good movie! I wonder if this would be titled something different in the age of smart phones. Maybe "Text M for Murder"? I also very much enjoyed the way the director made his cameo in this one! Bravo!

Margot Wendice has had an affair with her friend Mark and since her handbag, which contained a particularly incriminating letter, was stolen she has received blackmail demands. She doesn't know that the handbag had actually been taken by her husband Tony. He is a former tennis pro but now he is living on his wife's wealth and is concerned that she may leave him… he doesn't want her, just her money, so he plots what he thinks is the perfect murder. Having seen a rather disreputable character he knew when he was up at Cambridge he uses a combination of blackmail and payment to get the man to kill Margot. Things don't go according to plan; Margot fights back and her attacker ends up dead. Now Tony has another plan… while acting as though he is trying to help her he works to ensure she is hanged for murder!Given that this film is based on a play it isn't too surprising that it has a very theatrical feel; largely because almost all of the action takes place in the Wendice's flat. This isn't a problem though as the story is solid. Tony's scheme is just about plausible and the way he reacts after it fails almost makes him feel more villainous and the scene where the attempted murder takes place is intense as the attacker tries to strangle Margot with a stocking and she fights back with a pair of scissors. Ray Milland does a fine job as Tony, keeping him outwardly respectable rather than a pantomime villain. Grace Kelly is also solid as Margot. The rest of the cast are pretty good too. Inevitably some of the attitudes displayed are rather dated; most notably when a policeman warns a junior colleague to be careful how he carries Margot's handbag or he could be arrested himself… no doubt this was meant to give viewers a chuckle but these days seems rather shocking. Overall I wouldn't say that this was a classic Hitchcock film but it is still well worth watching.