A Perfect Murder

1998 Mystery & Suspense

A Perfect Murder is based on Frederick Knott's play +Dial M for Murder, filmed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1954. Married to commodities trader Stephen Taylor (Michael Douglas), Emily Bradford (Gwyneth Paltrow) is romantically involved with artist David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen). Aware of this affair, Stephen researches David's past, visits his loft studio, and informs David that he knows about his aliases, jail sentences, and various cons and scams directed at rich women. Then Stephen offers David $500,000 to murder Emily, and David agrees. The plan is calculated to make the murder look like an accident, but events soon go on an unscheduled course. Enter Detective Mohamed Karaman (David Suchet). Knott's original play opened June 1952 in London, followed by a New York run that began October 1952. Several books and sources describe how Hitchcock's film was made in 3-D but neglect to mention that, despite trade screenings in 3-D, Dial M for Murder was originally released in 1954 with ordinary, flat 2-D prints. It was finally shown to audiences in 3-D during the mid-'80s. more..

Director: Andrew Davis

Starring: Michael Douglas,Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, David Suchet, Sarita Choudhury

Reviews

  • I think it works like a nasty little machine to keep us involved and disturbed; my attention never strayed, and one of the elements I liked was the way Paltrow's character isn't sentimentalized.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    29 November 2012

  • The story has enough nasty twists and tantalizing clues for its ingenious mechanics to remain engaging.

    Stephen Holden - The New York Times

    29 November 2012

  • I've seen far worse thrillers than A Perfect Murder, but the movie is ultimately more competent than pleasurable.

    Owen Gleiberman - Entertainment Weekly

    29 November 2012

  • A Perfect Murder begins better than it ends, and the pleasures it offers turn out to be more of a transitory nature.

    Kenneth Turan - Los Angeles Times

    29 November 2012

  • There's nothing about this thriller to prevent it from soon becoming enmeshed in the memory with others in which Michael Douglas wears a starched collar and grits his teeth.

    Mick LaSalle - The San Francisco Chronicle

    29 November 2012

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1999)

  • Favorite Actress - Suspense

    Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (1999)

  • Best Horror/Thriller

    Golden Trailer Awards (1999)