Wait Until Dark

Based on the play by Frederick Knott, 1967's WAIT UNTIL DARK was very much "the" thriller of the era, a shocker that set audiences screaming--particularly in the film's final ten minutes, when cinema lights were lowered to the legal limit, placing both characters and audiences in near total blackout for the the movie's climax. The whole thing was a huge success, and it copped Audrey Hepburn still another Academy Award nomination as best actress.

Hepburn plays Susy Hendrix, a blind woman living with husband Sam in a New York apartment. Sam has recently come into possession of a doll which he later mislays--but unbeknownst to Sam and Susy the doll contains heroin, and three criminals set out to recover it. With Sam lured away for the night, the three attempt to con Susy into finding the doll and turning it over to them. But Susy is swifter on the uptake than they anticipate, and she uses her blindness as a weapon against her tormentors in an effort to escape them.

The stage play presents Susy as a strong, sexy, and clever woman who fights like hell; the film, however, presents her as somewhat timid and vulnerable. The result is very much a star-vehicle for Audrey Hepburn, who delivers a powerhouse performance--but the change in the character has the effect of rendering the center hour of the film a bit slow. Still, WAIT UNTIL DARK has a truly memorable first and last half hour and a truly disturbing performance by Alan Arkin, who creates one the most truly evil characters ever seen on screen. The supporting cast is also quite fine, featuring Richard Crenna, Jack Weston, and (the only cast member to repeat her stage role for the film) Julie Herrod.

Seen today, the performances sometimes seem a bit over the top and the film has moments of accidental camp--but it remains an effective thriller, and Audrey Hepburn fans will enjoying seeing her in this somewhat unlikely role. The DVD includes a short documentary that features producer Mel Ferrer and actor Alan Arkin. The print is very good, indeed borderline pristine. And yes--you really should watch this one in the dark. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

WAIT UNTIL DARK was one of my favorite thrillers growing up. It always made me spill my snacks during late-night viewings. Susy Hendrix (the enchanting Audrey Hepburn) seems like the perfect prey for the utterly wicked Harry Roat (Alan Arkin). After all, she is a tiny woman, and she is blind. Roat has concocted a brilliant scheme to retrieve a heroin-filled doll that was slipped to Susy's husband, Sam (Efrem Zimbalist, jr.) by its terrified courier. Roat arranges for Sam to leave town and hires two ex-cons (Richard Crenna and Jack Weston) to pull off the scam by acting like an old friend, a police officer, etc. Susy is taken in at first, but ultimately "sees" through the whole charade. This leads to the showdown finalé. I remember being scared $#!tless of Roat when I was a kid! And for good reason. He is one of the coldest, craziest, and most ruthless killers ever portrayed on film. Arkin oozes w/ menace, making every word or movement of Roat feel dangerous. He is a coiled viper. A seemingly serene shell containing only death. The climactic battle between Roat and Susy is one of the classics! Don't worry too much about her though, as she proves to be far more than Mr. Roat bargained for...

While there are many excellent reviews for "Wait Until Dark," now that I own the DVD, I feel compelled to reiterate for others my deep appreciation and "thrill" for this absolutely wonderful film.

As a teenager I was never a fan of Audrey Hepburn--until I saw "Wait Until Dark!" Like many teenagers of the time, one of my favorite genres was "horror/thriller" movies like "Psycho" (1960), "The Birds" (1963), "Comedy of Terror" (1964), and "Rosemary's Baby" (1968). While "Jaws" (1975), "Alien" (1979), "The Shining" (1980), and "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) would follow as audience favorites, for my money "Wait Until Dark" is the zenith of this genre. While I can remember other films, I will never forget "Wait Until Dark." It is literally the only film that I have ever "jumped" in surprise while watching it. I will never forget the "darkness" of the theater, the tension of the crowd, the sounds and screams, the audience on the edge of their seats--many ducking down or closing their eyes in fear--and the shear excitement of the experience of "waiting" and watching "Wait Until Dark."

While watching "Wait Until Dark" on a television set is nothing like experiencing it at the theater, making the room as dark as possible and using headphones can make a close approximation. I have sworn for 41 years that I would never watch "Wait Until Dark" again because I thought I could only truly experience it one time; but when the DVD went on sale I could not resist the temptation--and I am glad I did. I was totally wrong. It still thrills me, even though I know what is going to happen. The only complaints I have are that the DVD "extras" are lacking, and the old cardboard storage box is a disgrace.

"Wait Until Dark," for those who don't know, was originally a Broadway production, directed by Arthur Penn, which opened on February 2, 1966. Warner Brothers-Seven Arts purchased the rights shortly after, and quickly brought the production to the "big screen." The script was adapted by Robert Howard-Carrington and Terence Young directed the film. Warner Brothers assembled an incredible cast that included outstanding performances by Audrey Hepburn, Richard Crenna, Alan Arkin, and Jack Weston. Most theaters went along with the productions intriguing concept: "In an effort to duplicate the suspense on screen, movie theaters dimmed their lights to their legal limits, then turned off one by one until each light on-screen was shattered, resulting in the theater being plunged into complete darkness." And it worked like a charm!

Of interest to me, from the "extras" was learning that a Broadway revival directed by Leonard Foglia, which opened on April 5, 1998 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, amassed a nearly equally amazing cast that included Marisa Tomei, Quentin Tarantino, and Stephen Lang in the lead roles. I have never really been one for stage productions, but this certainly would have been once I would have liked to have seen.

If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.

I am buying this movie as a gift to a friend who likes it as much as me! If you like retro 60's, a great story line with good acting and of course...a thriller, this is for you!! Being an Audrey fan helps a little too! Highly recommended!!!

As the title indicates, my mother-in-law highly recommended this movie, so my wife and I gave it a try. It's a mystery with one unpredictable turn after another. Starring Audrey Hepburn as the sweet, blind but intelligent and crafty Suzie Hendrix; Richard Crenna as the reluctant con artist/thief; and Alan Arkin as the sinister master of disguise Harry Roate.

The progression of the film reminds me of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock film ROPE (starring Jimmy Stewart). The climactic plot twist reminded me most of M. Night Shyamalan's first three popular films (back when he made good movies). The acting is pretty good, but not what I would call Oscar-worthy (with sincere apologies to Audrey Hepburn fans). But you forget about all that when you get caught up, and eventually, totally lost in the characters and the inevitable problematic scenarios in which they find themselves.

We heartily enjoyed it and would watch it again.