Wait Until Dark
1967 Directed by Terence Young
Synopsis
Audrey Hepburn, the role you're going to remember, whenever you're alone.
A recently blinded woman is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment.
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Film Number 3 for the Adapted April Challenge!
Cuttin a little close this week! I was a lot busier than expected. But I'm glad I got around to it! I hadn't seen this in yeeeeears and until it was assigned to me, I had completely forgot it existed. I wanna thank whoever suggested it! It was almost like watching it for the first time.
For as effective as this movie is, I find that there is unexpectedly not a lot to say. It's an incredibly simple setup and situation that is pulled off almost flawlessly with a few slight tweaks and twists.
The plot involves a blind woman who is terrorized by a group of thugs that are trying to…
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Film 4 of the Adapted April Challenge
Sometimes when you read about a film, see who is in it and what it is about you just know you'll love it. And sometimes that just doesn't happen and the disappointment is so much greater than with a regular film that doesn't make the grade.
With a cast like this and an intriguing premise this should be a gripping and tense thriller. This unfortunately never really happens, apart from perhaps some clever touches in the final act.
The biggest problem, and it truly pains me to say this, is Hepburn. Her performance is so melodramatic that it makes her predicament devoid of any suspense whatsoever. The focus on her innocence and the…
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If you were to seek the bonus material of Hitchcock's Rear Window, there's an explanatory segment entitled 'Rear Window' Ethics: Remembering and Restoring a Hitchcock Classic where director Peter Bogdanovich deconstructs the sensory device of its subjective character J.B. Jeffries. He simply says: "you have a shot of Jimmy Stewart, you see what he's looking at, then you see his reaction." Thirteen years later, the Carrington's adapted Frederick Knott's play Wait Until Dark and also implemented an incredible use of the impaired victim - this time actualizing a natural fear of sightlessness to perceive the suspicious circulation of events. Quite similarly, the Audrey Hepburn we see here must also use her wits, be supported by a secondary character, ultimately realize…
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"What the heck is Wait Until Dark?" I asked myself as I saw it laying around at the library last week.
Hmm, Alan Arkin is a villain...and Audrey is the victim? MINE!
This needs to be brought up more as a classic Hepburn film! There's just so much that it does right! EXCLAMATION POINTS!
I can't go the full monty with it, because it's based off a play, which makes for some elements that are a little off because it's made to come across on a stage, and they don't change as much as you'd think. This works well sometimes, but here it could be better. Still, it's a damn classic!
Audrey is a blind woman who is thrown into…
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This movie is incredible. audrey hepburn is great as usual, and the setting being predominantly in one location makes it much better for me. the entire scene with the scare towards the end is absolutely terrifying, and one of the most thrilling things i've seen on film. and it has a young alan arkin. what's not to love?
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One of the most suspenseful, frightening and utterly compelling films I've ever seen. Audrey Hepburn's beauty and innocence is perfect for the blind Susy Hendrix and seeing such an adorable person being completely taken advantage of makes the film that much more terrifying. If we saw these evil people (highlighted by Alan Arkin's brilliant performance as the despicable Roat) taking advantage of anyone else, it wouldn't be half as hard to watch as it was when we saw it done to Hepburn. The plot is relatively simple. Through a twist of fate, Susy Hendrix's husband Sam received a doll loaded with heroine. The mysterious Roat recruits Mike Talman (Richard Crenna) and Carlino (Jack Weston) to act out an elaborate scheme…
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At one point my friend and I turned to each other, paused for a moment, and screamed. That was the only moment in the film that truly stuck out to me.
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Wait Until Dark is one of the most harrowing film experiences I've ever had. It's not necessarily a "horror" film, although it's definitely scarier than many films of that genre I've seen. Audrey Hepburn is given an unusual role for her, but it may just be her best one--she's tender, innocent, intelligent, and above all, sincere. Watching three thugs ruthlessly terrorize her is simply heartbreaking. She also nails the blind aspect of the character. As the leader of the crooks, Alan Arkin is very impressive. The music is fitting, and the direction sets the mood of the film perfectly. A terrific thriller.
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A classic thriller that is totally creepy and strangely affecting. I also saw a revival of this on Broadway with Marisa Tomei and Quentin Tarantino in the lead roles and even that was good.
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A suspenseful, tense and almost Hitchcock-ian thriller with fantastic performances from Audrey Hepburn and Alan Arkin, its no Rear Window but its certainly fantastic. Its a completely unique and interesting concept and narrative with our hero having to defend herself whilst being blind. The music and editing is fantastic leading to many tense and almost terrifying sequences whilst Hepburn is completely vulnerable. Setting the film for the most part in one room was a fantastic choice as the audience, much like Hepburn's character, is led to believe they know everything about the room until something is changed or we find another secret of the apartment. Overall, a masterfully tense and suspenseful thriller with some great performances from Hepburn and Arkin.
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Film 4 of the Adapted April Challenge
Sometimes when you read about a film, see who is in it and what it is about you just know you'll love it. And sometimes that just doesn't happen and the disappointment is so much greater than with a regular film that doesn't make the grade.
With a cast like this and an intriguing premise this should be a gripping and tense thriller. This unfortunately never really happens, apart from perhaps some clever touches in the final act.
The biggest problem, and it truly pains me to say this, is Hepburn. Her performance is so melodramatic that it makes her predicament devoid of any suspense whatsoever. The focus on her innocence and the…
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From a simple premise and one primary set begins an absolute masterclass in escalating tension. Audrey Hepburn is first among equals as the lead of a core cast of just five people, delivering a brilliantly convincing portrayal of a blind woman at a loss for who to trust, restrained literally and metaphorically by her one-exit apartment and her debilitating condition, but Arkin and Crenna also offer top-tier performances as the visitors to her home, seeking a heroin-stuffed doll they're convinced is in her possession. It's wall-to-wall quality: the oppressive, helpless Mancini score; the marvellous use of mise-en-scene (blinds, phone cords); the sublime, Hitchcock-calibre direction; and oh, the way that last half-hour ratchets up the heart-wrenching intensity until you just can't bear it any more. Timeless.
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One of my all time favourite films. Audrey Hepburn does an amazing transitioning from a helpless to a vengeful blind woman. One of her best performances. Let's also not forget ALAN ARKIN!
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Film Number 3 for the Adapted April Challenge!
Cuttin a little close this week! I was a lot busier than expected. But I'm glad I got around to it! I hadn't seen this in yeeeeears and until it was assigned to me, I had completely forgot it existed. I wanna thank whoever suggested it! It was almost like watching it for the first time.
For as effective as this movie is, I find that there is unexpectedly not a lot to say. It's an incredibly simple setup and situation that is pulled off almost flawlessly with a few slight tweaks and twists.
The plot involves a blind woman who is terrorized by a group of thugs that are trying to…
-
If you were to seek the bonus material of Hitchcock's Rear Window, there's an explanatory segment entitled 'Rear Window' Ethics: Remembering and Restoring a Hitchcock Classic where director Peter Bogdanovich deconstructs the sensory device of its subjective character J.B. Jeffries. He simply says: "you have a shot of Jimmy Stewart, you see what he's looking at, then you see his reaction." Thirteen years later, the Carrington's adapted Frederick Knott's play Wait Until Dark and also implemented an incredible use of the impaired victim - this time actualizing a natural fear of sightlessness to perceive the suspicious circulation of events. Quite similarly, the Audrey Hepburn we see here must also use her wits, be supported by a secondary character, ultimately realize…