
The Lost Weekend
The screen dares to open the strange and savage pages of a shocking bestseller!
Don Birnam, a long-time alcoholic, has been sober for ten days and appears to be over the worst... but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother and girlfriend, he begins a four-day bender that just might be his last - one way or another.
- 7.6
- 1945
- Released
- 1h 41m

Ray Milland
Don Birnam
Jane Wyman
Helen St. James
Phillip Terry
Wick Birnam
Howard Da Silva
Nat the Bartender
Doris Dowling
Gloria
Frank Faylen
'Bim' Nolan
Mary Young
Mrs. Deveridge
Anita Sharp-Bolster
Mrs. Foley
Lilian Fontaine
Mrs. Charles St. James
Frank Orth
Opera Cloak Room Attendant
Lewis L. Russell
Charles St. James
Andy Andrews
Alcoholic (uncredited)
Walter Baldwin
Man from Albany (uncredited)
Harry Barris
Pianist at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Jess Lee Brooks
(uncredited)
Jack Rube Clifford
Guard (uncredited)
David Clyde
Dave (uncredited)
James Conaty
Man in Nightclub Washroom (uncredited)
Willa Pearl Curtis
Mrs. Wertheim's Assistant (uncredited)
John Deauville
Cloakroom Attendant (uncredited)
Helen Dickson
Mrs. Frink (uncredited)
Franklyn Farnum
Concert Attendee (uncredited)
Byron Foulger
Shopkeeper (uncredited)
Jayne Hazard
M. (uncredited)
Ted Hecht
Man with Bandaged Ear (uncredited)
Ernest Hilliard
Headwaiter (uncredited)
Earle Hyman
Smoking Man (uncredited)
Jerry James
Male Nurse (uncredited)
Stan Johnson
Nurse (uncredited)
Jack W. Johnston
Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
Karl 'Karchy' Kosiczky
Baby (uncredited)
Eddie Laughton
Mr. Brophy (uncredited)
Perc Launders
Doorman (uncredited)
Bertram Marburgh
Jewish Man (uncredited)
William Meader
Hardware Man (uncredited)
James Millican
Nurse (uncredited)
Frank Mills
Drunk in Alcoholic Ward (uncredited)
Pat Moriarity
Irishman (uncredited)
William Newell
Liquor Store Proprietor (uncredited)
William O'Leary
Irishman (uncredited)
Peter Potter
Shaky and Sweaty Man (uncredited)
Stanley Price
Fruit Clerk (uncredited)
Craig Reynolds
George (uncredited)
Lester Sharpe
Jewish Man (uncredited)
Lee Shumway
Guard (uncredited)
Douglas Spencer
Hospital Patient Seeing Imaginary Beetles (uncredited)
Al Stewart
Mattress Man (uncredited)
Amzie Strickland
Woman in Bar (uncredited)
Harry Tenbrook
Drunk in Alcoholic Ward (uncredited)
Fred 'Snowflake' Toones
Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
Emmett Vogan
Doctor (uncredited)
Max Wagner
Mike (uncredited)
Milton Wallace
Pawnbroker with Helen's Coat (uncredited)
Gisela Werbisek
Mrs. Wertheim (uncredited)
Crane Whitley
Waiter at Harry & Joe's Bar (uncredited)
Ernest Whitman
Black Man Talking to Himself (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
Drunk (uncredited)
Isabel Withers
Woman Before Pawn Shop (uncredited)
Audrey Young
Cloak Room Attendant (uncredited)
Dick Gordon
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Released
en
$1,250,000.00
$11,000,000.00
- #based on novel or book
- #alcohol
- #brother
- #paranoia
- #bartender
- #addiction
- #alcoholism
- #flashback
- #film noir
- #suicidal
- #black and white
- #writer
- #alcoholic
- #bats
- #low self esteem
- #dishonesty
- #hopelessness
- #delirium tremens
- #lies
- #devoted girlfriend
Reviews

A truly evocative tour de force from Ray Milland in this semi-autobiographical tale of four days in the life of writer Charles R. Jackson - characterised here as "Don Birnam" - whose life as a writer is frequently wrecked by his chronic alcoholism. Just when he might be on the wagon, however, his addiction becomes even more acute and he diverts $10 meant for their cleaner and goes on a massive ben

This Best Picture winner (also won for director, actor and screenplay) was decently acted, albeit a bit too theatrical (stage type) for my taste but still well made movie with what I assume is a realistic take on alcoholism (never drank myself) from director Billy Wilder. It is a bit optimistic in the end but still an engaging enough drama. **3.75/5**

One of Billy Wilder's best films, and certainly Ray Milland's best performance as he's cast against type playing a failed alcoholic author. Milland perfectly captures the despondent, manipulative and even criminal behavior of the lead character. More than 70 years after its release this film still packs a huge punch.

Delirium is a disease that only comes at night. Don Birnham is not a drinker, he is in fact a drunk, he is left alone for the weekend by those who love him under the proviso that he gets stuck into his writing, thus the hope is that he stays away from the booze that is killing his life and the loving foundation that his life is built upon. Billy Wilder directs this with brilliant hands, he p











