Review of Wait Until Dark (1967) by Rosco B — 10 Dec 2008

My dad used to extol the values of this fondly remembered thriller to the point of annoyance when I was a kid. I finally got my mitts on it when I bought a sale DVD copy of it a few years back and kinda saw the old boy's point.

One of the most interesting things I found about it was the quirky juxtaposition (spot the media student!) of placing a quintessentially classic Hollywood-era heroine (and a blind one at that) in a very modern and threatening dilemma. Hepburn plays the part with the blissfull naivete of one of her celebrated starrier roles (eg Eliza Doolittle) but is pitted against the supremely menacing Alan Arkin, whose knife wielding thug is an indicator of some of the nastier screen villains to come in the '70s.

This clash of cinematic codes makes for pretty tense viewing; I for one was nervous during the sequences involving the pair; I didn't want any harm to come to her at all!

It isn't a perfect film by any means- you can tell a mile off that it's based on a stage play as the director keeps it extremely simple and the cinematography is incredibly staid at times. However, it makes up for such faults in a chilling, dark-enshrouded climax which even rivals the mighty "Rear Window" for edge of your couch tension.

All in all though a slightly overlooked gem in the wonderful Hepburn's impressive screen canon that possibly deserves more attention than it gets. Except from my dad, who still goes on about it.