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Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark

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Director: Terence Young
Actors: Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Weston
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD

List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $13.97
You Save: $6.01 (30%)

Qty 34 In Stock


New (33) Used (13) Collectible (1) from $13.75

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 118 reviews
Sales Rank: 2550

Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), French (Dubbed)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.5 x 0.6

MPN: WARD27527D
ISBN: 0790779374
UPC: 085392752720
EAN: 9780790779379
ASIN: B00009NHC5

Theatrical Release Date: October 26, 1967
Release Date: August 5, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW, Factory Sealed items direct from the Studios. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Quick International Airmail!

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
An intense pulse-pounding classic about a blind woman who accidentally takes a dose of heroin & is trapped in her apartment. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Starring: Audrey Hepburn Run time: 108 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Audrey Hepburn's last Oscar nomination was for this adaptation of Frederick Knott's famed stage thriller about a blind woman, a con man (Alan Arkin), and a doll full of heroin. Thanks to Hepburn's husband, a photographer who does a good deal of traveling, she's unknowingly come into possession of said doll, which was given to him on a plane by a comely young drug runner who winds up dead. The murderous Arkin, aided by sympathetic henchman Richard Crenna, will let nothing stand in the way of his obtaining it, even if it comes down to assaying multiple "personalities" in order to visit and terrorize Hepburn; Crenna is unwillingly enlisted to help. However, the "world's champion blind lady" (as Hepburn sardonically states) is more than up to the task of defending herself in her basement Manhattan apartment in a heart-stopping climax that to this day still defines the way horror movies with jack-in-the-box psychos are made. Despite the obvious staginess of it all (the entire action takes place in Hepburn's apartment), it still works magnificently, thanks to Hepburn's steely will and Arkin's deadly, sadistic madman. A helpful hint: turn out all the lights when you watch it; theaters back in 1967 did so, killing the guiding lights during the film's last 15 minutes. We can't tell you why, but trust us, it's worth it. --Mark Englehart


Customer Reviews:   Read 113 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars Wait Until Dark(but not alone)   December 8, 2008
M. Walton (saint george, ut)
Wait Until Dark w/Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna: By far this
movie is the best for keeping you glued to its every move..From "the get-go"
you're yelling at the screen to try to help Audrey survive her ordeal..and
when it really gets to the movies "heart", you can't even take a breath..
All your energy will be focused to saving Audrey from those evil men..each
person in this movie does a truely perfect acting job..you will never
forget "Wait Until Dark"..I still get the jitters after 41 years...A MUST
SEE..Mary Walton



4 out of 5 stars Turn Out The Lights   November 17, 2008
Gary F. Taylor (Biloxi, MS USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

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



5 out of 5 stars Kill The Lights...   October 16, 2008
Bindy Sue Frønkünschtein (under the rubble)
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...


5 out of 5 stars The Absolutely Best Thriller Of All Time, Bar None: Experience The Fear--Watch It In The Dark!   September 25, 2008
Dr. Karl O. Edwards (Helena, Montana)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

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.



5 out of 5 stars Wait Until Dark!! The best realistic thriller!!   July 21, 2008
Stacy L. Hernandez (Riverside, CA USA)
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!!!

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