Chapter Five
Tippi’s Takes Presents:
What Hitch Taught Me About Life
An exploration of life and cinema from the viral sensation
by Tippi Rathbone
Chapter Five
Dial M for Murder (1954): Follow the Breadcrumbs
Dial M for Murder presents one of the best twists in a murder-for-hire plot, even if Hitchcock himself wasn’t impressed with the final product.
There are many cinematic achievements in this film.
We’re introduced to the alluring and seductive Grace Kelly, an actress capable of stealing Hitch’s heart just as easily as she wooed audiences.
The limited setting of a stylish apartment provides a sense of claustrophobia and serves as a subtle reminder that one setting can easily be the backdrop to both a passionate affair and a twisted murder.
Our protagonist, Margot, strikes luck when she’s able to fight off her would-be attacker, killing him in the process. This traumatic experience sends the audience on a search for answers, each breadcrumb leading to the next until the truth is revealed: Margot’s husband is trying to kill her.