Title: The Lost Weekend
Year: 1945
Director: Billy Wilder
Country: US
Language: English
Billy Wilder's fourth directorial effort, The Lost Weekend was a critical and commercial hit which won 4 Oscars at that years' Academy Awards. It had an enormous impact on the public, especially veterans who were combat fatigued and at-risk for addiction.
Don Birnam (Ray Milland), 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.
The Lost Weekend was a groundbreaking picture because it was the first time Hollywood had tackled the subject of alcoholism in such a frank and honest way. Its uncompromising view was controversial for the time, and helped bring social awareness of the disease.
The black and white cinematography was incredibly expressionistic; creating an atmophere of dread and despair. The score, which had the first use of electronic music in film, is eerie and adds to the characters' distorted reality.
The Lost Weekend may deter some viewers as it's not light entertainment, like Going My Way (1944)/. It is a somber, somewhat difficult viewing, but it has aged well & its message is incredibly important.
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