The Lost Weekend (1945)

The Lost Weekend (1945) (DVD) (*)

~~$24.99~~ $18.97

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Cannes Film Festival
Golden Globes
Oscar Academy Awards
Other Film Festival Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )
Italian ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Italy ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
96 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Posters
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1945 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
Billy Wilder

Written By:
Charles R. Jackson
Charles Brackett

Actors:
Ray Milland ..... Don Birnam
Jane Wyman ..... Helen St. James
Phillip Terry ..... Wick Birnam
Howard Da Silva ..... Nat
Doris Dowling ..... Gloria
Frank Faylen ..... 'Bim' Nolan
Mary Young ..... Mrs. Deveridge
Anita Sharp-Bolster ..... Mrs. Foley
Lillian Fontaine ..... Mrs. St. James
Frank Orth ..... Opera Cloak Room Attendant
Lewis L. Russell ..... Mr. St. James

Synopsis:

Directed by Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot), this gut-wrenching adaptation of Charles Jackson's The Lost Weekend horrified its studio, was rejected by test audiences, and was lobbied by temperance groups, yet went on to huge success and became the awards sensation of its year. Ray Milland stars as Don Birnam, a New York author struggling with years of alcoholism and writer's block. Trying to keep him on the path to rehabilitation are his straight-laced brother Wick (Philip Terry) and devoted long-time girlfriend Helen (Jane Wyman). When Don absconds from a country excursion, he embarks on a four-day binge, spiralling towards rock bottom.

An alcoholic spends a weekend alone with only his bottle for company. Don Burnam is a less than successful writer who shares an apartment with his brother Wick. He quit college midway through after selling a story to a major magazine but found that success would elude him. He turned to drink and now finds himself going on regular binges. He's supposed to go away with Wick for the weekend but having found $10 meant for their cleaning lady, soon finds himself at the local liquor store and his favorite bar. He reminisces with the bartender and anyone who will listen about his life and particularly about Helen St. James who he met at the opera and who loves him dearly, despite his illness. His weekend binge gets him into the drunk ward at the hospital and once home, contemplates suicide.

Don Birnam, long-time alcoholic, has been 'on the wagon' for ten days and seems to be over the worst; but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend Helen, he begins a four-day bender. In flashbacks we see past events, all gone wrong because of the bottle. But this bout looks like being his last...one way or the other.

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 28 November, 2019.