I've only seen this film once on the big screen, and that could be debatable, because the screen was only about 18 feet wide. However, if you are in New York... don't let this experience pass you by. Unlike nearly every other 3-D film experience you have ever had... Hitchcock is in control, and he placed every object and set piece as to be heightened by the 'gimmick' of 3-D. This isn't a case of.... thrown objects at the center of the screen... but rather... a case of being placed in the hands of a master storyteller who's been given an extra dimension to toy with.... and what a toy...
Hi Harry,
Last night, I decided to see a movie. Since I had already seen "The Matrix" a couple of times and wasn't in a "The Out-of-Towners" mood (hopefully I never will be), so I went to see Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial M for Murder" at the Film Forum in New York City.
I found out when I got there that it was in 3D, with 3D goggles and all!
Back in 1954, Dial M had a limited engagement in 3D become the normal version was released. The 3D version was shown on two projectors running simultaneously. (In the 80's, I read, a 3D version on one projector was released, but wasn't very good.)
Anyway, the two projector version I saw yesterday was awesome. It was actually quite comparable to IMAX. Of course it's not as good as IMAX but it's pretty darn close. I sat in the third row and it seemed like Grace Kelly was a foot in front of me.
If I was to rate this experience with all of the IMAX experiences I have had, I've seen like 3 or 4 IMAX movies, Dial M is by far #1. The answer is simple. Dial M was a real movie, running nearly 2 hours with an intermission, and not a 40 min. docu-movie.
I have always wished someone would make a real IMAX movie but I figured it would be too hard to do. But after seeing what Hitchcock was able to do 45 years ago puts all IMAX filmmakers to shame.
Sherman Pugsly
