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The Lost Weekend (1945)

The Lost Weekend (1945)
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Billy Wilder's searing portrait of an alcoholic features an Oscar-winning performance by Ray Milland as Don Birnam, a writer whose lust for booze consumes his career, his life, and his loves. The story begins as Don and his brother Wick (Philip Terry) are packing their bags in their New York apartment, preparing for a weekend in the country. Philip, aware of his brother's drinking problem, is keeping an eye of him, making sure he doesn't sneak a drink before the departure of their train. Arriving at the apartment is Don's girlfriend, Helen St. James (Jane Wyman), who has tickets to a Carnegie Hall concert that night. Don persuades Wick and Helen to go to the concert without him, hoping to find one of his well-hidden bottles of booze. But when Wick and Helen go to the concert, Don discovers that Wick has gotten rid of the liquor. Don has no money, so he can't visit the neighborhood bar -- that is, until the cleaning lady arrives to reveal money hidden in a sugar-bowl. Don grabs the cash and hits the street, heading off to Nat's Bar. Nat (Howard Da Silva), a bartender who has seen it all, is surprised to see Don. But when Don shows he can pay for his drinks, Nat reluctantly serves him, telling Don, "One's too many and a thousand's not enough." Soon Don plunges in an alcoholic haze, his boozing landing him in a harrowing drunk tank, presided over by the cynical attendant Bim (Frank Faylen). ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Starring:
Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, (more)
Director(s):
Billy Wilder
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of The Lost Weekend

Billy Wilder's searing portrait of an alcoholic features an Oscar-winning performance by Ray Milland as Don Birnam, a writer whose lust for booze consumes his career, his life, and his loves. The story begins as Don and his brother Wick (Philip Terry) are packing their bags in their New York apartment, preparing for a weekend in the country. Philip, aware of his brother's drinking problem, is keeping an eye of him, making sure he doesn't sneak a drink before the departure of their train. Arriving at the apartment is Don's girlfriend, Helen St. James (Jane Wyman), who has tickets to a Carnegie Hall concert that night. Don persuades Wick and Helen to go to the concert without him, hoping to find one of his well-hidden bottles of booze. But when Wick and Helen go to the concert, Don discovers that Wick has gotten rid of the liquor. Don has no money, so he can't visit the neighborhood bar -- that is, until the cleaning lady arrives to reveal money hidden in a sugar-bowl. Don grabs the cash and hits the street, heading off to Nat's Bar. Nat (Howard Da Silva), a bartender who has seen it all, is surprised to see Don. But when Don shows he can pay for his drinks, Nat reluctantly serves him, telling Don, "One's too many and a thousand's not enough." Soon Don plunges in an alcoholic haze, his boozing landing him in a harrowing drunk tank, presided over by the cynical attendant Bim (Frank Faylen). ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
101 mins

Complete Cast of The Lost Weekend


Director(s):
Billy Wilder
Writer(s):
Billy Wilder, Charles Brackett
Producer(s):
Charles Brackett
The Lost Weekend Awards:
  • 1945 - Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Best Picture
  • 1946 - Cannes Film Festival - International Grand Prix For Best Actor
  • 1946 - Cannes Film Festival - Grand Prix
  • 1945 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
  • 1945 - Golden Globe - Best Picture
  • 1945 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture
  • 1945 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Actor
  • 1945 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
  • 1945 - National Board of Review - Best Actor
  • 1945 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture
  • 1945 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
  • 1945 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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Member Reviews
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Ryn G.

BY RYN GARGULINSKI - A man here is dying, literally, for a drink. One of the best addiction flicks around, it's on par with Requiem for a Dream, which actually made me leave the room for its creepiness. This film is equally as horrific, although we don't get prostitution and an arm amputation. Rather, we see a poor sap in the throngs of his disease, which is not a pretty sight. The film faithfully portrays all the alcoholic tendencies - the shakes, the enablers, the secrecy, the shame, the hospital wards, the insanity. The cravings, the rage, the drink that sings like a siren to the drinker, the desire to blow your brains out. DTs are even explored, in the form of a dive bombing bat and a sad, bleeding mouse. Highlight: The dive bombing bat and the sad, bleeding mouse. Lowlight: The woman who lets her alcoholic boyfriend sell her gorgeous leopard coat for a drink. This happens, of course, in the rain. Rating (1-10): 99.42 MORE REVIEWS ON RYN GARGULINSKI'S BLOG.

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Tim V.

After watching this movie for the first time I felt that the overall message was kind of heavy handed with a lot of exaggerations concerning alcohol addiction, but after giving it some thought, and thinking about the era in which this movie came out (1945), I came to the conclusion that it had to take a pretty large set of stones to even get this movie made. Ray Miland is a little stiff at the beginning, but by the end he completely sells the character of Don Birnam, and the stiffness during the beginning almost seems warranted. Birnam isn't the real Birnam unless he's completely soaked in booze, or at least that's how Birnam sees himself. It's not the kind of movie that's going to lift your spirits, but it is a well acted and thought provoking trail blazer, a little too fear mongering in parts, but still a bold film for the 1940s.

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Marsha G.

This movie has it all. You laugh but it's also a good story to watch unfold. I've seen a few old movies and this is one of the best. Definitely worth checking out.

Yes   |   No

 
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