"Delirium is a disease of the night"

Nov 5, 2008

by Schtinky

Rating:

My first recommendation on this movie is to pick up a copy of the book by Charles Jackson and read it first. While the movie is good and stands on its own, it leaves out many of the inner musings available in the novel. There is sugarcoating at the ending and over-dramatization in crucial areas, but it's still a worthwhile movie to add to your addiction collection.

Don Birnam is an alcoholic, he'll do anything for a drink. 'The Lost Weekend' is a short tale of a short part of Don's life, covering his frenzied movements from bar to liquor store to pawn shop. The movie does a pretty good job of externalizing what is happening inside Don's mind.

"Most men lead lives of quiet desperation," Don says, "I can't take quiet desperation." Don is a writer, living off his brother, and spends his weekend boozing it up and reminiscing over days gone by.

My favorite flashback is the one where Don is watching 'The Drinking Song' from the first act of Verdi's 'La Traviata'. It's priceless. Don drools over the drinking and the ladies' bell-skirts turn into raincoats, one of them his with his booze in the pocket.

If you love "addiction" books and films as I do, this one is a must have for your collection. Though filmed in black and white, and made in 1945, 'The Lost Weekend' has lost none of its charm, nor it's bite, in the years between then and now. Addiction is personality, not era, and its still an entertaining movie. Enjoy!

What did you think of this review?

Helpful

Thought-Provoking

Fun to Read

Well-Organized

Post a Comment

More The Lost Weekend reviews

Quick Tip by MNeulander. August 23, 2010

posted in Classic Silver Screen Film Reviews!

A Quick Tip by MNeulander

Ray Malland does a superb job of showing the "evils" of alcoholism in this film.

Comment Compliment

see all The Lost Weekend reviews (2)

About the reviewer

Schtinky

I want to thank Everyone for welcoming me back! :) I'm here to stay folks, my sabbatical on writing reviews is over and I'll continue to review for Lunch. It's great to be back, too! Thanks again for … more