“Wait Until Dark” is a chilling psychological thriller directed by Terence Young and adapted from a play of the same name by Frederick Knott. Starring Audrey Hepburn, Alan Arkin, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Jack Weston, and Julie Herrod in lead roles, the movie is a gripping nail-biter from start to finish.

Frederick Knott, the playwright, is also the author of the Hitchcock classic, ‘Dial M for Murder’. The two movies share a few common themes. Both revolve around a female lead whose life is in danger, and both feature open front doors and keys as significant plot elements. Additionally, in both movies, the antagonist uses fingerprints to entrap others into complying with their twisted plans.

Most of the plot of ‘Wait Until Dark’ is set in a basement apartment in London. The movie begins with a woman, Lisa, waiting for an elderly man to stuff a doll with narcotics at an apartment in Montreal, Canada. Lisa then takes a cab to the airport, and the elderly man is seen making a call as he watches her leave. The woman takes a flight to New York, en route to her final destination, London, England.

Upon arriving at JFK airport in New York, the woman notices a man (Alan Arkin) looking at her. Visibly agitated, she talks to a fellow passenger and then hands over the doll to him. The man who was looking at her earlier is then seen roughly grabbing Lisa’s arm and forcing her to come with him.

In the next scene, two petty criminals, Mike (Richard Crenna) and Carlino (Jack Weston), are seen looking for an apartment in London. When they arrive at the doorstep of the basement apartment, a note apparently from Lisa tells them that the door is open and to come in and relax.

The two men enter and begin exploring the apartment. One of them helps himself to some food from the refrigerator. Suddenly, there is a knock on the door that startles the duo.

The mystery man seen earlier, aggressively escorting Lisa away at the airport, enters the apartment. He is wearing a hat, dark glasses, and black clothes. The situation is tense, and after a brief standoff between the two crooks and the mysterious man, a strange conversation ensues. Though hard to follow, this conversation sheds light on the events thus far and sets the stage for what’s to come.

The conversation reveals that Lisa and the two criminals, Mike and Carlino, were once a team that often staged elaborate cons on wealthy, vulnerable men. On one occasion, the con went awry, resulting in Mike and Carlino doing time while Lisa escaped. The man in black introduces himself as Harry Roat and claims to be Lisa’s partner. He explains that they need the assistance of Mike and Carlino to locate a doll of ‘immense value’ that Lisa had entrusted to a fellow passenger, Sam Hendrix, the resident of the basement apartment. However, the doll has mysteriously disappeared.

Roat manipulates Mike and Carlino, threatening them with their fingerprints being all over the apartment if they go to the police. Reluctantly, they agree to cooperate. Just then, they hear footsteps approaching the front door. It’s Susan Hendrix, a blind woman who becomes central to the story.

As the plot unfolds, Susan becomes entangled in a dangerous con game orchestrated by Roat and the others. With her husband away, Susan must navigate the terrifying situation with limited assistance. The tension escalates, leading to a gripping finale where Susan’s bravery is put to the test.

The ending of the movie is as intense and riveting as the rest of the plot. Audrey Hepburn delivers a masterful performance, earning her an Academy Award nomination. Alan Arkin is chilling as the menacing Roat, while Richard Crenna and Jack Weston also deliver strong performances. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Sam Hendrix.

Despite a few flaws in the plot, ‘Wait Until Dark’ is a must-see for thriller enthusiasts. It keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its suspenseful narrative and stellar performances.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wait_Until_Dark_(film)

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wait-until-dark-1968