My Name is Bill W. (1989)
Synopsis of My Name is Bill W.
My Name Is Bill W reunited the stars of the highly acclaimed 1986 TV movie The Promise: James Garner and James Woods. This time Woods has the bigger role as the real-life Bill Wilson, who comes marching home from World War One with a "little" liquor problem. He drinks steadily throughout the Prohibition Era, but Wilson's habit doesn't catch up with him until he is ruined by the 1929 stock market crash. This disaster propels Wilson into flat-out alcoholism, costing him his family and his reputation. While drying out in detox, Wilson strikes up a friendship with Bob Smith (Garner), an alcoholic doctor. Through Smith's influence, Bill Wilson organizes a small band of chronic drinkers into what will eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous. The formation of AA consumes the emotional final third of My Name Is Bill W, which like its Garner/Woods predecessor The Promise was originally presented as a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 99 mins
Complete Cast of My Name is Bill W.
- James Garner - Dr. Bob
- Bev Appleton - Hank
- Joe Inscoe - Fred
- Max Maxwell - Casey
- Ray Reinhardt
- Fritz Weaver
- Gary Sinise - Ebby
- Jack Garner - Zack
- Daniel Moore - Soldier #3
- James Woods - Bill Wilson
- George Coe
- Mark Joy - Guy Kolb
- Bruce Morrow - Chief Engineer
- Rick Warner - Bill D
- JoBeth Williams - Lo
- John Badila - Leonard Strong
- Rick Marshall - Artie
- Robert Harper
- Director(s):
- Daniel Petrie
- Writer(s):
- William G. Borchert
- Producer(s):
- Daniel Petrie
- Categories:
- Television
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