On Friday the 13th – Wait Until Dark! Scream, Gasp and Get Ready to Jump Out of Your Seat….and show your support for the Andra Heart Foundation!

VIP Tickets – include viewing of the film, with a private cocktail and appetizer reception, your choice reserved loge or balcony seating.  5:30 PM Entrance to the Theater.

General Admission Tickets – include viewing of the film in the beautiful main theater, with three included concessions (soda, popcorn and ice cream). 6:30 PM Entrance to the Theater

1967 Classic Film Thriller Starring Audrey Hepburn (Andra’s Favorite)

When Sam Hendrix carries a doll across the Canada-US border, he sets of a chain of events that will lead to a terrifying ordeal for his blind wife, Susy. The doll was stuffed with heroin and when it cannot be located, its owner, a Mr. Roat, stages a piece of theatre in an attempt to recover it. He arranges for Sam to be away from the house for a day and then has two con men, Mike Talman and a Mr. Carlito, alternately encourage or scare Susy into telling them where the doll is hidden. Talman pretends to be an old friend of Sam’s while Carlito pretends to be a police officer. Despite their best efforts they make little headway as Susy has no idea where the doll might be, leading Mr. Roat to take a somewhat more violent approach to getting the information from her.

To its credit are the performances of Audrey Hepburn as an insecure “champion blind woman,” Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. as her encouraging husband, Julie Herrod as her helpful (but rebellious) young friend, and a whole host of (Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna to name a few) others as a variety of crooks, cops, and impostors. The plot is well thought-out, with twists and turns to keep you busy from even before Hepburn sees screentime. It almost entirely takes place one or two rooms of an apartment, utilizing the limited set to a “Rear Window”-esque advantage. There is suspense, emotion, crime, passion, and a delve into the world of the blind- and its potential symbolism.

It’s been called “The best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made,” due to the edge-of-your-seat suspense and haunting mood. The thrill is enhanced because Hepburn, the heroine, is blind and these three bad guys freely walk into her apartment and reinvent themselves as her husband’s friends, or the police, or some neighbors. The tension is strong because they all forget one thing, our heroine uses her ears like no regular person does. Sometimes it is pretty painful to watch because she seems so vulnerable.

This film builds the suspense throughout perfectly. There is not a lull or a let-down to be found! Also, this has a twist ending and a classic suspense/horror plot element that has been done many times since, but perhaps never as well!

When you see this film and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, you can really appreciate Audrey Hepburn’s range of talent and beauty.

Directed by Terence Young. Soundtrack by Henry Mancini

About the Andra Heart Foundation

In 2010, Andra died of an undiagnosed heart condition at age 12.  She had  a plan to save the world, so we are going  to save the world too.  We support education to BE PREPARED, BE AWARE and DO SOMETHING.  Learn CPR, Screen Student Athletes, and Support Students, Pandas and Community. Not long after Andra’s death, Jenine and her family started the Andra Heart Foundation. With many volunteers, Jenine carries out free screenings to help prevent sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes. So far, over 3,000 students have been given an electrocardiogram, with over 150 students who tested abnormal getting a free initial follow-up. Through the foundation, Jenine has also donated defibrillators to local schools, as well as the Children’s Museum Oro Valley and South Tucson’s LEAD Athletics, and has supported more than 400 Flowing Wells students with funding for school trips, personal needs and other activities.