Wait Until Dark (1967)
I realize Wait Until Dark is a classic, but after you’ve seen it three or four times, it tends to lose its magic. You realize the dialogue feels very play-ish and stilted because, after all, it was almost literally transcribed from the Broadway production. You get over the shock and see it’s hardly more than a regular cheap thriller from the 1960s. And you start to criticize Audrey Hepburn’s over-the-top performance until you realize that the melodrama is only partially her fault: she shouldn’t have been cast in the first place.
Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of grace, class, and composure (which is why she was a terrible choice for Eliza Doolittle). As a recently blind woman, she’s supposed to still be finding her way while feeling a little helpless and lost. You’re supposed to feel sorry for her and afraid that something bad will happen to her. Instead, Audrey looks as though she just stepped out of the beauty parlor and doesn’t have a care in the world. Her hair is coiffed, her clothes are clean, pressed, and matching, and her composure calm. Just imagine if the lead were played by Shelley Winters. Shelley would have had messy hair, clothes in disarray, and a constant snivel and warble in her voice. She would have made the character vulnerable and nearly pathetic, so the danger would have seemed real. Nothing could ever happen to Audrey Hepburn!
However, villains Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, and Jack Weston certainly try their hardest, and there are several scenes that are eerie, intense, and frightening. The first time you see this movie, you’ll shriek and scream and have a marvelous time. I’ve just seen it too many times. And as my famous phrase lingers on, it really should have been Shelley Winters. Efrem Zimbalist Jr has a horrible character as Audrey’s husband. He’s nearly cruel, and downright unsupportive of his recently blind wife. He thinks tough love will be helpful to her, but the way his lines are written and delivered seem as though he can’t stand her and find her new handicap irritating and bothersome to his daily routine. Thankfully, he’s hardly in the movie so it doesn’t ruin anything. Alan’s tour-de-force is a role that countless actors covet when the play is produced on the stage. He’s creepy, cold, and nearly unrecognizable. If you’ve never seen this classic, try it out close to Halloween. It’s very fun.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Audrey Hepburn movies here!
Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of grace, class, and composure (which is why she was a terrible choice for Eliza Doolittle). As a recently blind woman, she’s supposed to still be finding her way while feeling a little helpless and lost. You’re supposed to feel sorry for her and afraid that something bad will happen to her. Instead, Audrey looks as though she just stepped out of the beauty parlor and doesn’t have a care in the world. Her hair is coiffed, her clothes are clean, pressed, and matching, and her composure calm. Just imagine if the lead were played by Shelley Winters. Shelley would have had messy hair, clothes in disarray, and a constant snivel and warble in her voice. She would have made the character vulnerable and nearly pathetic, so the danger would have seemed real. Nothing could ever happen to Audrey Hepburn!
However, villains Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, and Jack Weston certainly try their hardest, and there are several scenes that are eerie, intense, and frightening. The first time you see this movie, you’ll shriek and scream and have a marvelous time. I’ve just seen it too many times. And as my famous phrase lingers on, it really should have been Shelley Winters. Efrem Zimbalist Jr has a horrible character as Audrey’s husband. He’s nearly cruel, and downright unsupportive of his recently blind wife. He thinks tough love will be helpful to her, but the way his lines are written and delivered seem as though he can’t stand her and find her new handicap irritating and bothersome to his daily routine. Thankfully, he’s hardly in the movie so it doesn’t ruin anything. Alan’s tour-de-force is a role that countless actors covet when the play is produced on the stage. He’s creepy, cold, and nearly unrecognizable. If you’ve never seen this classic, try it out close to Halloween. It’s very fun.
Want to watch it? Click here to see it on ok.ru and thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Audrey Hepburn movies here!