Dial M for Murder (3D) (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954): USA

Reviewed by Sasha Miljkovic. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival 2013.

Before I talk about this film I just wanted to point out that I am not a huge fan of this “3d” film style. I can see it being awesome in 2001 A Space Odyssey, but what is the point of making an old film 3d?

Alfred Hitchcock is amazing! I havent seen a lot of his work but my, he really can tell a story. Dial M for Murder (3d) starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, John Williams, and Anthony Dawson, is a film about The perfect murder. Milland plays as Tony Wendice, a former professional tennis player. He quit to give his wife Margot Mary Wendice (Kelly) full attention and not have to be away all the time. At the time, Tony was not aware that Grace and  Mark Halliday (Cummings) had a brief affair while Tony was on tour. Mark visits the couple, and talks to Mary about all the letters they exchanged. Mary said she destroyed all the letters, but one, the one she lost. Mary is then blackmailed, but never gets her letter back. Tony convinces Mary and Mark to leave the house so he can plan his perfect murder. Tony blackmails his former college friend Captain Lesgate Swann (Dawson) into killing his wife for him. No crime is perfect. His original plan turns into plan B when it doesnt go according to plan. The situation gets intense and almost unbearable when the Cheif Inspector Hubbard comes to investigate.

Hitchcock keeps the hair on your back at a constant 180 degree angle with his intense play with words and small clues left by Tony. Classic film, except the 3d.   Yes the film looks “better” (quality wise) but is it worth it when random object pop out of the screen because its in 3d? Clever camera shots with a lampost in front of the charcters normally would be nice and artistic, but the 3d pushes everything out of the screen. I think the effect they were going for, was to make you feel like your actually in the room, in the scene. Which you do kinda get that feeling. But more so then not you just feel distracted. I think 3d can be great, like in a surf video, but not in these classic older films.

Overall great Film, Intense with a twisted plot and ending. 3d, not worth it.