In 1979, Audrey Hepburn found herself in a nightmare. She was known for grace, Givenchy dresses, and the sweet innocence of ‘Roman Holiday‘. But here she was, stuck in a dark and gritty movie about snuff films and corporate greed. It was the only R-rated film of her career, and she reportedly wanted to walk away.
Hepburn had mostly stepped away from acting after 1967’s ‘Wait Until Dark,’ because she wanted to focus on her family. However, by the late 1970s, her second marriage to psychiatrist Andrea Dotti was falling apart. The idea of a comeback, along with a big paycheck, eventually pulled her back to Hollywood.
The Snuff Film Subplot That Made Audrey Hepburn Want to Quit
The movie was ‘Bloodline‘, based on Sidney Sheldon’s best selling novel. It was directed by Terence Young, who made early James Bond films like ‘Dr. No‘. Hepburn, then 50, played Elizabeth Roffe, a rich heiress who takes over a drug company and finds out someone close to her wants her dead.
Related: Audrey Hepburn Ended Her Secret Affair With William Holden Over One Devastating Truth
On paper, it seemed like a smart thriller. But according to a deep dive by an outlet, the script had a dark side that Hepburn said she did not know about when she signed up. There was a subplot about a serial killer who films himself murdering naked women in snuff films.
When Hepburn found out, she was shaken. This was a woman who had played a nun and a princess, and was seen as a “beacon of clean-cut Hollywood goodness.” The violent and twisted material went against everything she stood for.
As a result, she was deeply uncomfortable with the project. Some reports say she tried to quit, but Young talked her out of it, telling her the script “only needs ten pages changing” to fit her age. Still, the damage was done, both to the film and to Hepburn’s peace of mind.
Why ‘Bloodline’ Became Audrey Hepburn’s Worst Movie and Almost Ended Her Career
When ‘Bloodline‘ came out, it bombed. Critics tore it apart, while modern reviewers call it “Audrey Hepburn’s worst movie” and “an almost total failure all around.” The snuff film subplot was so pointless that a longer TV version cut most of it out. To some., that proved Hepburn was right. It was never needed in the first place.
Watching ‘Bloodline‘ today is strange. One reviewer said, “It’s really weird seeing someone of her living legend stature in such sleazy surroundings.” Hepburn looks elegant but tired. She seems lost among the disco era sleaze and nudity. One odd scene shows a tour of a drug factory set to a cheesy disco beat.
In case you missed it: The Creepy True Story Behind Audrey Hepburn’s Stolen Oscar
‘Bloodline‘ pretty much ended her acting career. She only made two more small appearances, both in TV movies in the 1980s. After that, she spent her last years working for UNICEF; far removed from the world of snuff films and corporate greed.
For a woman who survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and gave her life to charity, ‘Bloodline‘ is an uncomfortable footnote. ‘Wait Until Dark‘ tested her nerve as an actress, but ‘Bloodline‘ tested her limits as a person. It is a reminder that some Hollywood scripts are just too dark, even for the brightest stars to fix.
You might also want to read: Why Audrey Hepburn Thought She Was All Wrong for ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
