Movie Review: DIAL M FOR MURDER

DIAL M FOR MURDER

1954
Not Rated


"In stories, things usually turn out the way the author wants them to, and in real life, they don't... always."
-- Mark Halliday

Dial M for Murder is a 1954 crime thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock that centers around a man's plot to have his unfaithful wife murdered. When former tennis player Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) learns of an ongoing affair between his wife Margot (Grace Kelly) and Mark Halliday (Robert Cummings), he sets into motion what he considers to be the perfect plot for murder. He hires an old college classmate (Anthony Dawson) to commit the crime in the hopes of achieving an alibi for himself. However, things don't necessarily go according to plan, with Margot inadvertently killing the murderer-for-hire after he attacks her. Taken aback, Tony starts to spin a web of lies and deceit that seem to place quite a bit of the blame on his wife. The stories become increasingly more convoluted, causing the characters an extreme amount of angst and confusion.

I've been meaning to watch Dial M for Murder for quite some time, especially considering the great Hitchcock is one of my favorite directors of all time. I finally had the opportunity to sit down and give this one a view, and I can honestly tell you that I'm anything but disappointed. Hitchcock crafts a tale full of twists and turns, delivering a final product that's worthy of every accolade it has ever received.

I'm going to start with the acting because I'll have more to say about the screenplay in a moment. I thought that the cast as a whole was terrific, with great performances from the aforementioned Kelly and Cummings. We also get a solid piece from John Williams, who plays the chief inspector in the film. However, this movie truly belongs to Ray Milland, who plays one of the most clever and intriguing villains I've ever seen grace the silver screen. He's charming and witty, and all that hides the sinister nature of his intentions throughout the film. There's something very charismatic about Milland's approach to playing the character, and he should be commended for his portrayal.

As good as the acting is during the film, however, the actors would be powerless without a strong screenplay; this is where the film truly succeeds and excels. From a plot standpoint, there's enough to keep even the casual viewer interested and engaged. Yes, we as the audience know the truth behind all the lies, but seeing the characters come to their realizations - or dealing with the realizations, as is the case with Milland's character - is part of the fun of the film. There's enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end of the film. That being said, I also have to applaud screenwriter Frederick Knott for also finding a way to keep the dialogue fresh and inspired throughout the film's entirety. Sure, the delivery of the lines is key, but having the base dialogue we're given is enough for me to fawn over this screenplay. While it's not the best screenplay from a Hitchcock film - I'm rather fond of Psycho, to be honest - it definitely ranks near the top of the list.

I'd also like to take a moment and applaud composer Dimitri Tiomkin for crafting an excellent musical score that suited the film rather well. Music can make or break a film's effectiveness, and I'm glad Tiomkin found a way to make it the former.

Overall, I would say that Dial M for Murder is a probable must-see. I know a lot of casual moviegoers from my generation are a little turned off by older films, but there's enough snap and bite to this one that I think they'll find something they can truly enjoy. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

Movie Review Summary
Grade: A
2 Thumbs Up

Addition to Rankings
Best All-Time: #139

Movie Review: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

1954
Not Rated

Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 B-movie monster flick directed by Jack Arnold that takes place in the Amazon. When Carl Maia (Antonio Moreno) finds a fossilized webbed claw during an Amazonian excavation, he quickly returns to the Marine Biology Institute to gather help for a larger dig. He brings along Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson) and his lover Kay Lawrence (Julie Adams), as well as their boss Dr. Mark Williams (Richard Denning) as well as a few others, and they all make their way into the depths of the jungle. When they return to Maia's campsite, they find his two native workmen dead inside their tent. Disturbed, they commence with the dig but remain wary. After a week, the group decides to push further down the river to a lagoon that may hold fossils like the one they found. However, when the boat reaches this "black lagoon," as the natives call it, they encounter a creature like nothing anyone had ever seen before.

Going in, you need to understand that you have to take Creature from the Black Lagoon for what it is: a solid B-movie that was made solely for cheap entertainment. If you go in actually expecting to get scared by this "creature," then you're going to be sorely disappointed. So, just sit back, relax and enjoy because there's quite a lot to like about this movie. The story is actually pretty good considering, pitting man against beast in an exotic locale that was brilliantly created on the backlot at Universal Studios Hollywood (I know this because of the many times I've taken the Studio Tour). It's captivating enough to draw you into the amazing events occurring around the cast, and once it grabs hold, it never lets go.

The acting is actually a little bit above B-movie grade, with the best performances coming from Carlson and Denning as two men of science who apparently have to compete over everything - including the affections of the lone female character. Each man is a foil of the other, and their verbal and physical sparring are quite entertaining, to say the least. We also get a good bit of comic relief from our boat captain Lucas (Nestor Paiva) who always brings the wit. The acting isn't going to blow you away, but it's definitely good enough for a flick like this.

The Creature itself is not scary at all, especially by today's standards; however, it is a little creepy in that it can attack you from the water. It made me think Jaws on a much smaller scale except that this thing wasn't going to chomp you into tiny little pieces. Perhaps in 1954, this thing was menacing (especially considering it was originally brought to audiences in 3D), but it's definitely dated. Still, the Creature holds its own in the annals of Universal movie monsters, so kudos should be given where kudos are due.

During the film's entire duration, I kept thinking about how this movie should be re-made. I know that most of the Hollywood fare of the 21st century has been remakes or reboots or re-imaginings, but if done right, this one could actually be very, very good. I wondered how it had come to pass that no remake for Creature from the Black Lagoon had yet to surface, but after a little bit of searching, I found that one has been scheduled for a 2013 release. Now, they could very easily destroy it, but if the filmmakers do it just right, they could revamp and revitalize this classic piece of cinema that is definitely worth watching.

Movie Review Summary:

Grade: B
2 Thumbs Up