The McFreeds blabber...
We found ourselves rushing off spontaneously to go see the latest film being played as part of the Alfred Hitchcock revival at The Charles Theatre here in Baltimore, Dial M For Murder. In 3-D!!!! The Charles shows the revival movie of the week on Saturdays, Sundays, and Thursdays in the large theatre. The films shown are not always in the best condition as they might be on DVD, but the experience of watching an old film with an audience is always too hard to pass up becuase it gives you a new perspective on a given film. Plus this was in 3-D (said with as deep a booming voice we can make...no giggling)!!!!
Well, on a Thursday night at 9pm, the move was close to being sold out...and on a school night even!!!! There were a ton of people in their 3D glasses. It was great! The movie is not one of Alfred Hitchcock's best but it was fun to watch it with an audience. It stars Ray Milland as a conniving golddigger of a husband (a great charming performance in a minor and somewhat dismissable Hitchcock) who uncovers his wife Grace Kelly's infidelity with Bob Cummings and attempts to have her killed murder-for-hire. The film itself was only rarely shown in 3D upon its initial release so it was a real treat to see it like that. All that was notable though about the 3D was there were a lot of lamps in the way and Grace Kelly's hand was creepy when she grabs for some scissors. Otherwise, the film is one that can be skipped or postposed to the end of your Alfred Hitchock film fest. Although, it could be a camp classic because of some of the corny lines it it. Our fav was something like...
Bob Cummings: "In a couple of days you're going to have the most wonderful breakdown!"
Grace Kelly: "Mark, I think I'm going to have that breakdown now!"
Ray Milland: "I'm so glad we don't have to go to Maureen's; she's such a filthy cook."
Oh those quotes...they are going down next to The Valley of The Dolls quotables now! The crowd we believe felt the campiness too! There was a lot of laughter throughout which made some of the staginess of the film a little more palpalble We wonder if Hitchock meant it that way since he kind of ignored the whole 3D aspect and had the camera navigate around the lamps. But the power of Ray Milland's villain and supporting player John Williams (who also appeared in Hitchock's The Paradine Case and To Catch A Thief as well as two epsiodes of 1979's Battlestar Galactica!) and as Inspector Hubbard does allow you to keep entertained and enjoy the naughtiness of Hitchock's banter upon occasion.
Although not a great film like Vertigo, Psycho, North By Northwest, or Rear Window, it was incredible to see the power of Hitchcock's name and reputation today with an audience of people of all ages going out on a nice evening and enjoying an old film.
Here is the trailer!
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