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Wait Until Dark (1967) movie poster

Timeline

Wait Until Dark (1967) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1967 · 108 min · English
Directed by
Terence Young
Starring
Jack Weston, Alan Arkin, Mel Ferrer, Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Audrey Hepburn

A young blind woman living in Greenwich Village is terrorized by a gang who believe she's hiding a valuable package of heroin. They manipulate her with lies and psychological torment, turning her apartment into a dangerous trap. As darkness falls, a desperate struggle for survival ensues, testing her courage and resourcefulness against their relentless pursuit.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 The book behind the movie
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like Wait Until Dark
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Wait Until Dark (1967)

Where can you watch Wait Until Dark? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Wait Until Dark Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Wait Until Dark (1967) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Lisa Arrives in New York City

    As Lisa steps off her flight from Montreal to New York City, she feels an immediate wave of anxiety washing over her. The hustle and bustle of the airport only amplifies her unease as she senses a man watching her closely, instilling a deep sense of dread.

    Where
    New York City Airport
  2. Lisa Hides the Heroin

    In an effort to protect her illicit cargo, a stash of heroin concealed within an antique doll, Lisa discreetly hands it over to Sam Hendrix, a professional photographer. This act is motivated by her hope that he will safeguard it until the danger passes, although she remains tense and apprehensive.

    Where
    New York City Airport
  3. The Abduction

    Before Lisa can feel any sense of security, she is abruptly seized by the mysterious man, who drags her away from the scene. This moment marks the beginning of a deadly game, leaving the fate of the hidden doll uncertain.

    Where
    New York City Airport
  4. Con Artists Enter the Scene

    Days later, con artists Mike Talman and Carlino mistakenly invade Sam and Susy's apartment, believing they are involved in their scheme. Unbeknownst to them, they have walked into a dangerous trap orchestrated by Harry Roat, the man who had been stalking Lisa.

    Where
    Sam and Susy's Apartment
  5. Discovery of Lisa's Body

    While rummaging through the apartment, Mike and Carlino inadvertently discover Lisa's lifeless body. This horrifying revelation leads them into reluctant compliance with Roat, who forces them to assist in disposing of her corpse while simultaneously searching for the hidden doll.

    Where
    Sam and Susy's Apartment
  6. The Con Scheme Unfolds

    As Sam goes about his photography assignment, the trio of conmen begins their meticulously planned scheme. They exploit Susy's blindness, manipulating her and creating a web of deceit to locate the hidden doll, all while maintaining the facade of innocence.

  7. Gloria's Innocent Visit

    A young girl named Gloria from upstairs innocently enters Susy's apartment to return a borrowed doll. Her seemingly minor action becomes pivotal as she shares news of Lisa's tragic fate, igniting a series of events that further complicate the situation.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  8. Susy's Clever Defense

    Realizing the true intentions of Mike and Carlino, Susy cleverly hides the doll in Sam's photography studio. She becomes aware of the danger that the conmen pose and instructs Gloria to wait for her husband at the bus station to avoid further complications.

    Where
    Photography Studio
  9. Susy Gears Up for Confrontation

    As Roat and his accomplices leave, Susy prepares to defend herself against the menace they represent. She begins to shatter the lightbulbs in her apartment, illuminating only one safelight that symbolizes her mental fortitude for the impending confrontation.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  10. Tension Mounts

    Mike confronts Susy, who now stands defiantly against their threats, refusing to give up the doll. The stakes escalate when Roat decides to eliminate Carlino, showcasing his brutal nature, while Mike's fate becomes increasingly uncertain.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  11. Susy Strikes Back

    When faced with Roat's growing threats and manipulative tactics, Susy displays extraordinary bravery. Using a chemical agent, she plunges Roat and the room into darkness, momentarily disorienting her dangerous adversary.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  12. The Climax

    As Roat attempts to navigate the darkness, Susy seizes the moment to retrieve the doll and reluctantly hands it to him. However, her true intentions come to light when she strikes Roat down, showcasing her persistence and quick-thinking.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  13. Desperate Escape

    Fleeing the scene, Susy discovers that the front door is locked with an unyielding chain, leaving her desperate to find another way out. Just as she considers the kitchen window, an ominous lunge from Roat complicates her escape.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment
  14. Police Arrive

    As the suspense reaches its peak, the sound of sirens signals the imminent arrival of Sam and Gloria, accompanied by the police. They burst onto the scene to find a shaken yet unharmed Susy hiding, while Roat lies motionless, marking a victorious moment for her.

    Where
    Susy's Apartment

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:28

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Timeline questions answered

Wait Until Dark Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Wait Until Dark (1967): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why did the con artists target Susy's apartment?

Mike Talman and Carlino mistakenly arrived at Sam and Susy's apartment, believing it was connected to their intended target. They had no initial reason to suspect Susy specifically - it was pure coincidence that led them to the wrong door, and this wrong turn put Susy squarely in the dangerous web Harry Roat had spun.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that the con artists are working through confusion and mistakes, foreshadowing this fateful wrong address.

  • mike talman
  • carlino
  • susy hendrix
  • apartment
  • con artists
Q2

How did Lisa's body end up in Susy's apartment?

After Harry Roat abducted Lisa at the airport, he presumably killed her and secretly placed her body in Susy's apartment. When Mike and Carlino came searching for the hidden doll, they stumbled upon Lisa's lifeless body, which Roat then used as leverage to force them into his scheme.

Foreshadowing: The abduction scene establishes Roat as a dangerous, methodical villain who stalks his victims.

  • lisa
  • body
  • harry roat
  • apartment
  • abduction
Q3

Why did Susy break all the lightbulbs in her apartment?

Susy broke every lightbulb except one safelight as a defensive strategy. Since she was blind, she knew she could navigate her own apartment in complete darkness while her attackers would be disadvantaged. The safelight symbolized her mental fortitude and readiness to face the danger head-on.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Susy's blindness is her greatest vulnerability to being manipulated, but also hints it could become her unexpected advantage.

  • lightbulbs
  • safelight
  • darkness
  • blindness
  • defense
Q4

Why did Susy hand over the doll to Roat?

Handing over the doll was a tactical maneuver, not surrender. While Roat was distracted examining the doll, Susy retrieved a kitchen knife and struck him down. She used his greed against him, turning the moment he thought he'd won into his defeat.

Foreshadowing: Susy's earlier instruction to Gloria shows she's thinking several moves ahead, foreshadowing her calculated counterattack.

  • doll
  • harry roat
  • knife
  • counterattack
  • tactical
Q5

Why did Harry Roat kill his own accomplices?

Roat eliminated Carlino and later Mike to remove witnesses who could identify him to police. He had no loyalty to his accomplices - they were simply useful tools for finding the doll. Once they served their purpose or became liabilities, he dispatched them without hesitation.

Foreshadowing: Roat's sinister nature is established early when he stalks and abducts Lisa at the airport.

  • harry roat
  • carlino
  • mike talman
  • killings
  • murder
Q6

How did Susy become aware of the con artists' true intentions?

Gloria, the young girl from upstairs, innocently returned a borrowed doll and told Susy about Lisa's fate - that she had been killed. This news immediately clued Susy into the fact that something sinister was happening and that the people manipulating her were dangerous criminals, not just troublesome visitors.

Foreshadowing: Gloria's innocent visit early in the film establishes her as a helpful character, making her later revelation more impactful.

  • gloria
  • lisa
  • danger
  • information
  • awareness
Q7

Why did Susy hide the doll at Sam's photography studio?

After learning of Lisa's death and realizing the con artists were looking for the hidden heroin, Susy moved the doll to Sam's photography studio to keep it out of their reach. This clever relocation meant that even if they searched her apartment thoroughly, they wouldn't find what they were looking for.

Foreshadowing: Susy's blindness forces her to rely on memory and trust, which the con artists initially exploit, making her counter-move more surprising.

  • doll
  • photography studio
  • hidden
  • location
  • sam hendrix
Q8

How did Susy use the environment to defeat Roat in the dark?

Susy deployed a chemical agent that created darkness and confusion, then cut the power to the safelight. When Roat tried to use matches, she extinguished them with gasoline. She forced him to use the refrigerator light as his only illumination, creating a controlled battleground where her knowledge of the apartment became her greatest weapon.

Foreshadowing: The apartment's layout is shown multiple times early in the film, emphasizing Susy's intimate familiarity with every corner.

  • darkness
  • chemical
  • refrigerator
  • gasoline
  • environment
Q9

Why couldn't Susy escape through the front door?

The front door was locked with an unyielding chain, blocking Susy's escape attempt. This forced her to retreat to the kitchen window, but Roat lunged at her ankle before she could climb out. She was forced to hide behind the refrigerator until Sam and the police arrived.

Foreshadowing: The film builds tension by creating multiple obstacles between Susy and safety, emphasizing her trapped situation.

  • front door
  • chain
  • escape
  • trapped
  • locked
Q10

Why was the heroin hidden inside an antique doll?

Lisa concealed the heroin within an antique doll to transport it undetected through airport security. The doll served as a perfect hiding place - something innocent-looking that wouldn't attract scrutiny. This is why Roat and his associates were so desperate to find it; the heroin represented significant value.

Foreshadowing: Lisa's anxiety at the airport and her careful handover of the doll to Sam establishes its importance from the very beginning.

  • heroin
  • doll
  • antique
  • smuggling
  • airport
  • lisa
Q11

How did Sam and Gloria end up arriving with the police?

Susy had instructed Gloria to wait for Sam at the bus station to keep her safe from the danger. When Sam returned, they must have learned about the danger and gone directly to the police. Their arrival with law enforcement saved Susy in the final moment as she crouched behind the refrigerator, with Roat lying defeated nearby.

Foreshadowing: Susy's protective instruction to Gloria shows her concern for others despite her own danger.

  • sam hendrix
  • gloria
  • police
  • rescue
  • arrival

Movie threads

More Movies Like Wait Until Dark, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Wait Until Dark tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Claustrophobic Thrillers in a Single Location like Wait Until Dark

Tense survival stories where a confined space becomes a deadly trap. If you liked the tense, trapped feeling of Wait Until Dark, explore more movies like it where the entire story unfolds in one location. These similar thrillers use confined spaces to create unbearable suspense and test their characters' survival instincts against seemingly insurmountable odds.

  • claustrophobic
  • suspenseful
  • desperate
  • anxious
  • trapped
  • nerve-wracking
  • Tone: tense, oppressive
  • Pacing: variable, building to frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives often begin with a sense of security that is violently shattered, turning a home or sanctuary into a prison. The plot revolves around a cat-and-mouse game where the protagonist must outthink their captors or invaders within the limited environment, using their wits and knowledge of the space as their greatest weapon.

Why they belong together: They are grouped by their shared use of a single, constricting setting to create an intensely claustrophobic and anxious viewing experience. The focus is on psychological pressure and the breakdown of safety, making the audience feel as trapped and desperate as the characters.

Movies about Underdog Survival like Wait Until Dark

Stories where seemingly disadvantaged heroes triumph through intelligence and courage. Fans of Wait Until Dark who loved seeing Susy use her wits to overcome her vulnerability will enjoy these similar movies. Discover other stories where heroes facing a disability, age, or other perceived weakness turn their disadvantage into a strength against formidable threats.

  • tense
  • hopeful
  • empowering
  • suspenseful
  • resourceful
  • underdog
  • Tone: tense, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, with intense climax
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a character who is underestimated by their oppressors. The central conflict forces them to rely on skills others overlook, often transforming their perceived limitation into a strategic advantage. The journey is one of empowerment, culminating in a victory earned by courage and cleverness rather than physical power.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a powerful and satisfying arc where the underdog defies expectations. They share a theme of inner strength and resourcefulness, providing a tense and emotionally resonant experience where intelligence and determination win the day.

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Every angle

Wait Until Dark (1967) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Wait Until Dark in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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