Movies at Mechanics' Presents Dial M for Murder (1954)

By the time of Dial M for Murder's release in 1954, Alfred Hitchcock had been working in the United States for fourteen years. He had established himself on two continents as the master of suspense, and had refined his own craft so much that his work was instantly recognizable. His films toyed with light and shadow, pairing the action with memorable music, a cameo by the man himself, and scripts infused with a touch of humor. Dial M for Murder touches on all points of a classic Hitchcock, including a memorable performance by Grace Kelly, a frequent Hitchcock leading lady.

Grace Kelly’s career in Hollywood was brief. She rose to stardom in 1952 alongside Gary Cooper in High Noon, and retired from film completely in 1956, when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco and became Her Serene Highness, Princess Grace. But in four years, she established herself as a star of the highest caliber, acting alongside some of the screen’s most memorable leading men. Kelly appeared in three Hitchcock films–Dial M for Murder, To Catch a Thief, and Rear Window, and won an Oscar in 1955 for her work in The Country Girl, opposite Bing Crosby. After her marriage and ascent to the Monegasque throne, she looked back on her film career fondly, openly speaking about it in interviews until her tragic death in a car crash in 1982. 

Ray Milland was a prominent character actor in Hollywood in the 1930s, becoming a popular lead actor in the 1940s and ultimately Paramount’s highest paid star. He is best known today for his Academy Award-winning role in The Lost Weekend, where he became the first Welsh actor to win the award. Dial M for Murder is frequently counted among his best performances, but 1970s audiences will also recall his memorable role as Ryan O’Neal’s father in Love Story.

October is Suspense Month here at Movies at Mechanics’, and Dial M for Murder keeps us on our toes from beginning to end. Frederick Knott, who wrote the screenplay based on his original drama, skillfully leads the audience through twists and turns as we explore the perfect murder…and its perfect undoing.

Stay tuned this month for:

Laura on October 10

Sunset Boulevard on October 17

Movies at Mechanics' has welcomed film enthusiasts for classic cinema screenings and salons on Friday evenings for over 20 years. Join us for fresh popcorn, lively discourse, and your favorite films the first three Fridays of the month. Hosted by Lara Gabrielle, film writer and author of Captain of Her Soul: The Life of Marion Davies.