Wait Until Dark

So I finally watched Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn last night. I was really impressed, but didn’t love it. Maybe it’s too much of a downer for this time of year? I don’t know. I’m curious to know what the rest of you think. I found some fun trivia on the film. Have a great Wednesday friends. Only 2 More days until Christmas!

–Produced by Audrey Hepburn’s then-husband, actor Mel Ferrer. Working on this movie together was a last-chance attempt to save their marriage, which ended one year later, in 1968.

–Audrey Hepburn’s film residence is at 4 St. Luke’s Place in Manhattan.

–Audrey Hepburn and director Terence Young attended a school for the blind to learn more about the visually impaired. Hepburn even learned to read Braille.

–Despite getting an Oscar nomination for this movie, Hepburn would not make another film until Robin and Marian (1976).

–When the film was released, the theatres darkened all their lights “to the legal limit” during the last twelve minutes of the film, each light going out as Audrey Hepburn smashed each light bulb. The one remaining light in the theatres would be switched off as the last light source in the film went out.

–The role that eventually went to Alan Arkin was difficult to cast because the producers couldn’t find actors willing to be cast in such a villainous role – not only terrorizing a blind woman, but terrorizing beloved Audrey Hepburn to boot!

–Audrey Hepburn tried to get this film shot in Europe, but relented when she was told not filming it in the US might have led to the closure of underused studio facilities in Hollywood.

–Although she later admitted that she didn’t intend to do so, Audrey Hepburn retired from films after this role, turning down all parts offered to her in order to devote time to raising her children. She would eventually return to the screen several more times, beginning with Robin and Marian (1976).

–Jack L. Warner first considered George C. Scott for the role of Harry Roat and Robert Redford for the role of Mike Talman before casting Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna in the parts.

–During the credits there is no credit for costumes, this is because Audrey Hepburn herself picked the clothes she wore from the stores in Paris.

–Julie Herrod also played Gloria in the 1966 stage version.

–“Wait Until Dark” originated as a play by Frederick Knott (who also wrote “Dial M For Murder”). The play opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York City on February 2, 1966 and ran for 374 performances. Lee Remick starred as Susy Hendrix and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Robert Duvall, Mitch Ryan and Julie Herrod were also in the cast. The play was directed by Arthur Penn.

–As a way to get people to see the movie, the filmmakers made a print ad and cautionary trailer that read: ‘During the last eight minutes of this picture the theatre will be darkened to the legal limit, to heighten the terror of the breathtaking climax which takes place in nearly total darkness on the screen. If there are sections where smoking is permitted, those patrons are respectfully requested not to jar the effect by lighting up during this sequence. And of course, no one will be seated at this time.’ It worked and the film became a huge success because of it.