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Parents' Guide to

Dial M for Murder

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Classic Hitchcock thriller is tense but not graphic.

Movie PG 1954 105 minutes
Dial M for Murder Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 3 parent reviews

sarge123
sarge123 Adult
January 24, 2015
age 14+

Fantastic Hitchcock thriller is violent and dark. 14+

Dr3w
Dr3w Adult
November 17, 2011
age 10+

Killer Movie

Dial M for Murder is not one of Hitchcock's greatest movies, but it's still pretty good. My main gripes with the film are a few long talking sequences early on where not much happens and that in general I couldn't find anyone to root for. Grace Kelly's character is a married woman having an affair with the leading man (although all that is shown is some mild kissing) and her husband is a cold-hearted man who is seeking to kill his own wife. This isn't a spoiler by the way, the dvd box tells you that much. There are really only two things parents should be aware of with this film. The first, obviously, is the adulterous relationship (which overall is handled tastefully) which the film never really condemns as wrong. In fact, because of the wicked husband's actions you are almost inclined to root for the adulterers. The second is a tense murder scene at the beginning in which (without giving too much away) someone is nearly strangled and someone is stabbed with a pair of scissors (no blood, but still intense as the scissors are seen actually going into the person's back). SUMMARY: Well-crafted Hitchcock film is not one of his greats, but still makes for an interesting two hours. The film is a bit slow-moving, but no major content problems.
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What's the Story?

Wily, dilettante tennis pro Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) is aware that his wife Margot (Grace Kelly) is in love with an American writer (Robert Cummings). Dependent upon her money and fearful that she'll leave him, Tony spends months planning the "perfect crime" and blackmails an old college classmate into carrying out Margot's murder. When things go awry, the diabolical Tony comes up with another brilliant way to get rid of Margot. Only the presence of an equally clever London police detective threatens to stop Tony from having his way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (6 ):

While not in the pantheon of Hitchcock's greatest achievements, DIAL M FOR MURDER is still considered a classic by many. Its intricate plotting, carefully built tension, and the scheming nature of its debonair would-be murderer keep the talky film moving despite its singular, interior setting.

This is the first Hitchcock-Kelly pairing and the film is credited with making her a star. Curiously, Warner Bros. insisted that the film be produced in 3D, though it was never widely released that way. The film will appeal mostly to Hitchcock fans and old-fashioned "drawing room" mystery lovers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between movies made in this era and movies made today. How is violence portrayed differently? Why is there so much less smoking in movies today?

  • With scenes almost entirely in one room and based mostly on dialogue, how did Hitchcock build the suspense in this movie? Was it effective?

Movie Details

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