Wait Until Dark

Delivered on Time. Very Good Movie ! Worth every minute !! THANKS. Five Stars

This classic Audrey Hepburn film features one of her finest performances as a blind woman being tormented by a thug intent on grabbing a doll filled with drugs, played by a creepy Alan Arkin. The film has truly scary scenes that will linger in your memory. Excellent film with a first rate cast.

Audrey Hepburn is wonderful.

if god gave fred knotts another 20 years we'd probably have a third perfect murder thriller movie from him--"dial m" is intellectual, all about thinking, "wait" is physical, all about body pain--both are perfect--i first saw this in 1968 in the base movie theater of fort ord cal: the jump shot at 142:12 made me and all the vietnam vets (i myself wasn't a vietnam vet) scream outloud--i doubt that's a spoiler of such a great movie from such a great play

The sense of something dangerous lurking in darkness is a common fear. This fright over something unseen can be apparent or not known. In the case of "Wait Until Dark," the audience but not the main character knows this threat. This puzzle-raveling technique sometimes creates frissons in the audiences' spine, when a blind woman, Susy (Audrey Hepburn,) gets into an all-night battle of wits with three men looking for a drug-stuffed doll in her home. Not knowing where the doll is, and what it contains, she has to find a way to survive the night.The plot could be tepid home-invasion formalism, but instead it is mostly played as a high-concept plot piece. In this film, the bad guys (led by the Roat, played by the methodical thug, Alan Arkin) do not try to use force to get the doll from her, but use their smooth-talking wits, instead. These men pose as old friends of her husband, burglars, and later as police officers taking the report for the burglary, trying to make her break and tell where the doll is hidden. Yet, since Susy is not sure where it is, they become increasingly annoyed, and more prone to violence.The cat-and-mouse tactics that the villains impose on the impaired Hepburn character make the movie a much better than average shocker, especially in the famous way that Susy makes the odds more even in the climax-- a showdown that is one of the best cinematic conclusions in terror film history, and will make the audience root for an end to the antagonists' terror.Hepburn gives a believable performance in a flawed character role. Susy is angry about her recent blindness, while some of her small tantrums, and glimmers of hostility make her seem like a real person-- and this is what makes her character likable--believability. Yet, she is still sympathetically attached to the audiences` emotions.For instance, in a scene in which she gets in an argument with her errand girl, her character quickly apologizes, and through this sincerity in her acting that shows that only an actress of Hepburn's girl-next-door demeanor, that can encapsulate the sweetness, vulnerability, and nobleness of a woman that many girls aspire to could pull of such a role, and Hepburn does it in valor.The spotlight is also on scene-stealer, Alan Arkin, who is as menacing as he is a smooth talking, leather jacket, and sunglass wearing in daylight, devilish cat. In what has been called his best role, he gives a memorable performance for his one-dimensional character. Arkin is simply spine-tingling to watch, and you cannot take your eyes off him for a second.The acting and drama is mostly good all around, yet sometimes the film gives way to both awkward moments of over-acting (you know the ones in the old movies with cheesy music in the background,) and a sense of palatable suspense/terror is not really achieved until the climax.Because, as good as the final 15-20 minutes are, it also feels a bit of a let down in the way that the audience may feel they wanted Wait Until Dark to scare the bejesus out of you all along. Instead, audience members are treated to something that, despite how intriguing it is, is a bit too overly-talky since it does not at first generate these emotional frissons.Yet, in the end, Wait Until Dark features classy acting, and a grand ending that is punctuated by one of the best off-screen jump scares in the history of cinema. The film is a sophisticated thinking-(wo)man's thriller.8.0 (Out of 10)

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.

an original plot line in a tense thriller-early sixties vintage with recognisable faces however the stunning Audrey Hepburn is the lead actor, playing a blind victim terrorised by the bad guys led by Alan Arkin-M/s Hepburn is fantastic, utterly convincing- This was one of her later movies and she still had all the acting chops, i believe she got a nomination for this role although I might be wrong, she won so many awards. They don't make 'em like this anymore.

Saw this on the original release. Now my amdram group doing original play so thought I would give the movie another look. The play could be set in any city. It looks like the original Mr H bought the rights as a vehicle for Audrey, as the producer is Mel Ferrer. It translates very well to the screen, and the luminous Audrey is extremely good. Think she made this on the back of My Fair Lady, probably wanted something totally different. The rest of the cast are excellent, especially Alan Arkin. I feel Efrem Zimbalist a big name at the time was rather wasted. This is a scary thriller with lots of thrills to the very end. Not recommended viewing with the lights out.

Had not seen this film before.My wife HAD but hadn't seen it for years so I ordered primarily for her.I have to say that this is one terrific film were by the tension gradually moves up a notch throughout.I will not give any plot away except to say that Hepburn gives a stunning performance as do the ensemble cast.A great film that developers slowly to it's gripping finale.......as all great thrillers should.Definitely recommend to fans of the genre

This taut thriller is based on a stage play, and wisely is not opened out too much: after some initial scene setting, the action is concentrated in one apartment and the street immediately outside.Two con men (Richard Crenna and Jack Weston, both giving beautifully-nuanced performances) reluctantly assist the murderous Harry Roat (Alan Arkin) in his attempt to recover a stash of heroin hidden in a china doll which they believe is in the possession of a blind woman (Audrey Hepburn). The attempts to trick and then terrorise her into giving up the doll, and the distrust between the criminals, give rise to the twists and turns in the plot. It all ends in a tension-filled sequence, much of which takes place in pitch darkness.Hepburn gives a terrific performance as a frightened woman driven to the ends of her ingenuity, strength and courage, and Arkin is as threatening when restrained as he is when enraged.According to the box, this 12-certificate DVD "Contains moderate violence and threat". Piffle. Watch it with the lights out, and it will make Psycho look like the Magic Roundabout.

A VERY GOOD FILM THAT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED FOR MY COLLECTION, AS THE FIRST TIME I WATCHED IT I WAS PRETTY YOUNG AND FOUND THE FILM SUSPENSEFUL AND IMPRESSIVE. I RECOMMEND IT TO FANS OF CLASSIC FILMS AND ALTHOUGH THE MORE RECENT FILM "PENTHOUSE NORTH" IS SIMILAR, I LIKE THIS ONE MORE.