Dial M for Murder, directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Grace Kelly and Ray Milland, was filmed in 3D, but few saw the film as intended until 1980. By 1954, when the film was released, the short-lived 3D fad had died. "It's a nine-day wonder, and I came in on the ninth day," Hitchcock reportedly said of 3D cinema. If only he were alive today.
A now-vintage telephone featured prominently in the film poster and in the movie itself. Made of Bakelight, the first synthetic thermosetting plastic, the telephone, which reigned in U.S. households for decades, has become something of an objet d'art.
In the movie, the telephone memorably was used in the foreground to augment the 3D effect during an especially dramatic scene. This use of perspective was hilariously lampooned in Top Secret. No spoilers here: just search for "top secret phone gag" on YouTube.
Warning: The next slide shows sculptures of female nudes in poses that can be considered objectionable. You can skip that slide by going directly to Lights, camera, plastics—part 5.
Next slide From 1971: Viddy this. little brother
