The Lost Weekend

Starring: Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, Phillip Terry, Howard Da Silva, Doris Dowling, Frank Faylen, Mary Young
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama
1945

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: An alcoholic (Ray Milland) tries to control himself as he spirals into a four day drunken blur.

Review:

Tim: The Lost Weekend was a very controversial movie when it first came out. In the 1940s, audiences weren't used to such an adult, gritty, dark portrayal of a disease that many people would rather ignore than confront. This film took alcoholism and put it right up on screen- giving an unflinching look at the dangers and horrors of the disease. It was one of the earlier films to take a real, mature look at alcoholism. It's also a very entertaining, excellently made movie.

Ray Milland is quite good as a writer suffering from writer's block, depression, and a very bad addiction to alcohol. It's amazing how accurate of a portrayal he gives. You see all the classic alcoholic behavior- self-loathing, depression, lying, cheating, stealing, manipulating- in short, doing absolutely anything to get a drink. He seems like a man about to come unhinged at any moment- a man dying of thirst. It's an unforgettable performance, as Milland pours himself into the role, embodying the physical, mental, and emotional deterioration that can come from drinking. It should be of no surprise that Milland won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance here- while the supporting cast are important, this movie is absolutely about Milland. The audience can't take their eyes off him, as he shows us what a human trainwreck looks like. He is fantastic in the film.

The supporting cast is good. Jane Wyman does a good job as the long-suffering girlfriend who wants him to kick the habit. Phillip Terry is good as Milland's brother, who is fed up with his sibling's weakness. I thought Howard Da Silva was quite good as the owner of a bar Milland frequents. While these supporting members give good performances, this film is truly all about Milland.

It was fascinating to watch the story unfold. The script was very strong. We see Milland fighting his urges, giving in, and slowly succumbing to the darkness. It's amazing to watch his lows- as he panics, gets sick, and becomes increasingly desperate for a drink. The highs, however, are equally stunning- how Milland transforms before our eyes, into a fun-loving, gregarious talker. The sheer emotional swings he goes through is almost exhausting to watch. However, it makes for a truly compelling film.

The evils of alcohol are portrayed well here, but this isn't a film suggesting that all booze is bad. I liked the line that the movie walked- moderation is fine, but our lead character knows nothing about moderation. I felt like the hospital scenes were a bit much, but I understand the effort really show how alcohol can ruin lives. I was worried that the hallucination scene would have been too much- turning the film into too much of a cautionary tale, and not enough of a real movie- but it's handled perfectly. The bat and the mouse were frightening images that left a haunting impression. It was an impressive bit of filmmaking.

I love the adult, mature look at alcoholism here. The Lost Weekend is an important film, and an unforgettable one as well. The scenes of the enablers, the peer pressure, the downward drunk spiral all replay vividly in my mind. I am not an alcoholic, but I admit this film made me question the level of my alcohol consumption. I would never want to become the character I saw on screen. This isn't always a fun movie, but it's a spectacular example of how to make an emotional, powerful, memorable film. This movie deserved to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and I'm glad it did.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Double Indemnity, Sunset Blvd.