The Lost Weekend is a 1945 American film directed by Billy Wilder, starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. It is based on Charles R. Jackson's 1944 novel of the same name about an alcoholic writer. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay).
Plot
Day One: Don, the alcoholic writer, runs out of booze and finds himself broke. He tries to sell his typewriter at nearby pawnshops but discovers they are all closed due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Desperate, Don steals a key from a pawnshop and uses it to enter Gloria's apartment, where he cons her into giving him some money. However, he trips and falls on her hard tile floor, injuring himself.
Day Two: Don continues his drinking binge, visiting seedy bars and pawnshops as he searches for an open shop to get more alcohol. He manages to find an open pawnshop and obtains a bottle of whiskey, which he then brings back to his apartment.
Day Three: Don's alcoholism takes a toll on his physical and mental state, as he experiences withdrawal symptoms and delirium tremens. He also visits a bar, where he meets a kind-hearted bartender who tries to help him.
Day Four: Don's four-day drinking bout comes to an end, and he finds himself in a state of delirium. He tries to remember where in his apartment he hid his last bottle of alcohol but is unsuccessful. The film ends with Don's descent into madness and his eventual recovery, marking a turning point in his life.
The movie portrays a grimly realistic account of four days in the life of a chronic alcoholic, depicting the protagonist's frenzied movements from bar to liquor store to pawn shop. Ray Milland's performance as the alcoholic writer is haunting and the film is known for its riveting imagery, offering an unforgettable view of life on the edge. The film is considered a cynical look at alcoholism, with dry and dark humor, and is regarded as one of the all-time great dramas in movie history.
Trailer
Full Cast
Main Cast:
- Ray Milland as Don Birnam
- Phillip Terry as Wick Birnam
- Jane Wyman as Gloria
- Doris Dowling as Mrs. Helen Norsen
- Frank Faylen as Nat, the bartender
Supporting Cast:
- Howard da Silva as Billy, the bartender
- Sonny Tufts as the piano player
- Anita Björk as Helen, the nurse
- Harry Lewis as bartender
- MacDonald Carey as bartender
- Ted North as bartender
- Victor Sen Yung as Chinese bartender
- Charles Walters as piano player
- Mary Young as Mrs. Hitchcock
- Lilian Fontaine as Mrs. Phelps
- Frank Jenks as Mr. Norsen
- Holmes Herbert as Dr. Smith
- Frances Mercer as Miss Wetzel
- Clifton Young as orderly
- Richard Ames as elevator operator
- Almira Sessions as elderly woman
- Ben Bard as drunk
- Eddie Borden as drunk
- Billy Gray as drunk
- Jack Halloway as drunk
- Frank Lackteen as drunk
- Charles McArthur as drunk
- Frank Mitchell as drunk
- Jack Newman as drunk
- Fred Toones as drunk
- Max Wagner as drunk
Minor Roles:
- Harry Barris as pianist at Harry & Joe's
- Gene Ashley as male nurse
- James Conaty as drunk
- John Deauville as drunk
- Clark Eggleston as drunk
- John Garris as drunk
- Jayne Hazard as drunk
- Ernest Hilliard as drunk
- Jerry James as drunk
- Jack W. Johnstone as drunk
- Eddie Laughton as drunk
- Theodora Lynch as drunk
- William Meader as drunk
- Frank Mills as drunk
- William Newell as drunk
- Peter Potter as drunk
- Stanley Price as drunk
- Lee Shumway as drunk
- Douglas Spencer as drunk
- Bunny Sunshine as drunk
- Ernest Whitman as drunk
The film was directed by Billy Wilder and was based on the 1944 novel of the same name by Charles R. Jackson
Director: Billy Wilder
Writer: Charles R. Jackson, Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder
Genre: Drama
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 16, 1945
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 29, 2016
Themes & Reception
"he Lost Weekend explores themes of addiction, alcoholism, and the destructive nature of substance abuse. The film provides a grimly realistic portrayal of the life of an alcoholic, depicting the protagonist's frenzied movements from bar to liquor store to pawn shop.
The narrative delves into the struggles and desperation of the main character, Don Birnam, as he grapples with his addiction over the course of four days. The film's portrayal of alcoholism was considered groundbreaking for its time, shedding light on a vice that affected many people but was rarely addressed in mainstream cinema.
The movie received critical acclaim for its powerful and unflinching depiction of alcoholism. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and was praised for its haunting portrayal of the protagonist's descent into madness and eventual recovery. Ray Milland's performance as Don Birnam was particularly lauded for its depth and intensity.
Despite its age, The Lost Weekend continues to be regarded as a powerful and relevant film that effectively captures the devastating impact of addiction. The monochromatic color scheme and the film's careful handling of its plot were noted as contributing to its impactful portrayal of alcoholism.
Challenges Faced
Tackling a sensitive subject: The film explored the taboo subject of alcoholism, which was not commonly addressed in mainstream cinema at the time This decision to tackle a sensitive and controversial topic was a risky move, as it could have alienated potential audiences or censors.
Ray Milland's performance: Ray Milland's portrayal of the alcoholic writer, Don Birnam, was intense and could have easily veered into caricature. However, the filmmakers managed to handle the plot with care and depth, and Milland's performance was well-received.
Visual style: The monochromatic color scheme chosen for the film could have been seen as a risky decision, as it might have been perceived as visually unappealing or monotonous. However, the choice proved to be appropriate for the film's tone and theme, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
Balancing realism and drama: The film aimed to provide a grimly realistic account of the protagonist's life, while also maintaining a compelling and dramatic narrative. This balance was achieved through careful handling of the plot and the characters, ensuring that the film was both informative and engaging.
Visual Styles & techniques
The Lost Weekend (1945) utilized various visual styles and techniques to create its unique atmosphere and effectively portray the story of a struggling alcoholic writer. Some of the key visual styles and techniques used in the film include:
Monochromatic color scheme: The film adopted a monochromatic color scheme, which lent a drab and stark look to the project. This choice helped to enhance the film's atmosphere and emphasize the bleakness of the protagonist's life.
Chiaroscuro: The film employed a technique called chiaroscuro, which involves high contrast between light and shadow. This technique was used to create a stark overhead light from a bare lightbulb or the geometric illumination of complex window patterns, foreshadowing Wilder's innovations within the film noir genre.
Dolly moves and zooms: Director Billy Wilder used dolly moves and zooms strategically to enhance the storytelling. These movements were employed to emphasize character and story over flash, and they were used in deference to the character and the narrative.
Wider master shots: Wilder employed wider master shots to play with depth and create artistic juxtapositions between elements in the foreground and the background. This technique allowed for both elements to be placed in focus, reinforcing the film's visual style.
Economical and minimal approach: Wilder's visual style was characterized by an economical and minimal approach towards coverage, using subtle dolly work and strategic close-ups only where the story demanded it. This approach helped to maintain the film's focus on the characters and their struggles.
Noir-esque lighting: While Wilder's visual aesthetic was relatively anonymous by design, there were touches that bore his mark, such as the noir-esque light cast by Venetian blinds.
Setting
The Lost Weekend is set in New York City and primarily takes place in the seedy bars, pawnshops, and apartments that the protagonist, Don Birnam, frequents.
The film's setting and visual style work together to create a powerful and immersive portrayal of the protagonist's life and struggles. The seedy bars and pawnshops that Don Birnam frequents are depicted in a realistic and unflinching manner, emphasizing the destructive nature of his addiction.
Trivia
• The $10 Don finds in the sugar bowl to go buy booze with would equate to him finding $160 in 2022.
• The film was based on the novel of the same name by Charles R. Jackson, who drew on his personal experiences with alcoholism.
• 0The Lost Weekend won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 18th Academy Awards.
• The film was the first to address alcoholism in such a raw manner.
• Ray Milland's portrayal of Don Birnam was a risky gamble, as he played the role with an intensity that could have easily veered into caricature.
• The film's success demonstrated that difficult and controversial subjects could indeed have a place in the mainstream film industry.
Fun Fact
In preparation for his role as Don Birnam, Ray Milland worked out a deal with doctors and was admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He wanted to experience what it was like to be a patient there, and he even managed to escape the hospital premises at one point.
However, a cop noticed Milland's hospital pajamas and returned him to the hospital, disbelieving that the escaped patient was really Ray Milland researching a role