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Dial M for Murder
Dial M for Murder

Dial M for Murder

May 29, 1954· 1h 45m
Directed by
Cinemagraphs Score8.3

When her American lover visits London, a wealthy woman’s jealous husband hatches a plan to murder her and inherit her fortune.

Critics Sentiment

Critics8.3
No audience data yet —
1 — Hated it5 — Neutral10 — Masterpiece
Critics
|
8+ Great
6-8 Good
<6 Poor
21 reviews·Last updated 28d ago
Peak Moment

Margot fatally stabs Charles Swann with scissors during the attack

9.8at 41m
Lowest Moment

Margot is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death

7.2at 1h 19m
Biggest Swing

The film's energy drops significantly from the murder attempt peak to the courtroom proceedings, then recovers as Hubbard closes in on Tony.

Critics consistently praised Dial M for Murder as masterful Hitchcock despite the director's own modest assessment. The film peaks during the murder attempt sequence with the iconic scissors scene, then experiences a mid-film lull during the trial proceedings before building to a satisfying conclusion with Hubbard's clever trap. While some reviewers found Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings underutilized, Ray Milland's charming villain and John Williams' persistent inspector earned widespread acclaim.

21 reviews analyzed|Sources: Imdb, Tmdb
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15.510

Rate each story beat:

Margot and Mark Halliday's affair is revealed in opening scenes
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Tony entraps Charles Swann with fingerprints and blackmails him into murder
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Charles Swann enters the flat with Margot's latchkey as planned
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Margot fatally stabs Charles Swann with scissors during the attack⬆ Peak moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Chief Inspector Hubbard arrives and begins questioning the Wendices
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Margot is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death⬇ Lowest moment
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Mark finds Tony's money and confronts him with his theory
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it
Margot's inability to unlock the door proves her innocence to Hubbard
5.0
Hated itNeutralLoved it

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