Wait Until Dark – Review

Montreal. A knife cuts into a creepy little doll. Stuffing is removed by an elderly gentleman. Drugs are inserted. It is sewn back up, and taken away by a young woman named Lisa (Jones), who hails a cab to the airport outside. The heroin trade looks quite innocent in this fashion. Lisa makes her way through check-in and boards a plane to New York, drug doll in hand.

As the plan continues, Lisa smuggles her drugs through the airport until she spots a man watching her. Quickly, she convinces another traveler, Sam Hendrix (Zimbalist Jr.) to take the doll so she can avoid this unruly figure. Who is this dangerous man? Why does drug pusher Lisa worry? Who the hell is Sam?

Well, Sam is a mere photographer heading home to his wife, Susy (Hepburn), who has recently lost her sight due to a violent recent car crash. Looking for Lisa and her drugs are other criminal parties such as Mike Talman (Crenna) and his buddy Carlino (Weston). Yet… here comes another thug, Harry Roat Jr. (Arkin) from Scarsdale. This trio starts putting together the pieces they can about Lisa.

So, hidden heroin, multiple bad guy parties, an unknowing photographer, and a blind wife. A good setup. Wait Until Dark is based on a play, and as such is primarily contained to a few sets and holds a smaller cast. This does not constrain the film which moves along nicely and features interesting characters. Most all parties are given some time to breathe on screen, whether a “good” or “bad” guy.

The most memorable roles are Arkin’s Roat, and Hepburn as the main Susy Hendrix, who eventually takes center stage. Tensions ratchet up a bit and psychological aspects are introduced as games begin to be played around recovering drugs and making money. Hepburn is great as always, and anything with her is worth at least one viewing.

The film may be shot and presented relatively deliberately and straight forward for the opening bits, but eventually it creeps into faster moving tension and suspense. The performances and music build on each other, while the director holds a firm hand on narrative and anxiety levels as climactic events play out. Wait Until Dark remains an interesting crime thriller. It’s also cool to think about it as a play vs a film, as it is easy to see how it could run as either.

“I cannot negotiate in an atmosphere of mistrust.”