Dial M for Murder

If you're in any way a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, then this 1954 film will be somewhere high up on your Watchlist. Adapted from a play by Frederick Knott, it's a darkly sinister thriller centred around a man who is trying to kill his wife. He concocts a fiendish plan with an unlikely third party so as to have her bumped off and get away scott-free. The plan is carefully put together by the two of them, rehearsed and tested, and finally executed. With some hitches. And there I shall leave it, in case you don't know anything more!

The main leads are Welshman Ray Milland with a history and pedigree in acting stretching back to the 1920's and up to the year before he died, aged 79 in 1986 and Grace Kelly, who I guess really doesn't need any introduction and actually shortly after this film headed for Monaco - the rest is history, as they say!

It's a frightfully British affair, set in a flat in central London and many a cliche is in attendance, with some humour thrown in, particularly when it comes to the Police Inspector, played by John Williams, as he twiddles his 'handlebar' moustache!

The set is well thought out and you can see how this film works perfectly on the stage as a play. Almost the whole film is shot in the flat and this adds to the feeling of claustrophobia and menace afoot! Lighting and shadows are also used to fabulous effect, creating even more atmosphere, suspense and terror.

It's a great film and although I want to comment on the meat of it and share further thoughts on the outcome, I won't! If you haven't seen it, then do so. If you have, watch it again. It's likely to have been some time! I'm a great fan of Hitchcock's films and this, in my opinion, is one of the best. Do yourself a favour.