Wait Until Dark

Wait Until Dark is a memorably suspenseful thriller, even more so considering that the film's action rarely leaves its one-apartment setting. Much like the work of Alfred Hitchcock -- most notably 1948's Rope -- Dark is a desolate, brutal film. Best-known for his work on early James Bond films, director Terence Young subtly builds tension until the pulse-racing climax. Much of the menace is courtesy of Alan Arkin's stellar performance. In one of his first screen roles, Arkin is so compellingly amoral that he almost steals the movie from his more illustrious co-star, Audrey Hepburn. Still, the lovely Hepburn holds her own, bringing depth and compassion to the role of the blind woman being terrorized by Arkin's smarmy villain. She was nominated for her fifth Academy Award for her performance as the innocent-yet-determined victim. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide