Alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous in U S. films, 1945-1962: the party ends for the “wet generations”

Joe’s work suffers, and he is demoted, while Kirsten, alone all day with their young daughter, exhibits increasingly dangerous behavior because of her drinking. Their attempts to get sober have varying effects, and while Joe gets himself to AA, Kirsten can’t admit that she has a problem. It’s a sad look at a couple who love each other, but their addictive personalities make it clear they are better off apart. For those who struggle with drinking, this is one of the 5 best movies about alcoholism.

This is one shortcoming that can be put at the feet of the Hays Code, as the original Lost Weekend novel featured a glib open-ended conclusion that was never going to make it to the screen in this era. Billy Wilder and company had to make lemonade out of lemons here and at least the ending produced isn’t an ultimate worst-case scenario. Also disappointingly absent from the source material thanks to the Hays Code is Birnam’s implied homosexuality. This acting style isn’t a bad thing at all inherently, but it works better with certain roles than others. For Birnam, going so showy tends to dilute the horrors of his sickness.

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Withnail quotes Hamlet at the end of the movie, further solidifying him as a self-aware figure of tragedy. For those unfamiliar with the plot of this Best Picture Oscar-winner, The Lost Weekend chronicles the exploits of Don Birnam (Ray Milland), an author who’s been struggling with alcoholism for quite some time. He’s recently said that he’s off the sauce for good just as he prepares for a long weekend away with his brother Wick (Phillip Terry) and lover Helen St. James (Jane Wyman). Of course, things aren’t as they seem and Birnam ends up getting intoxicated the day that he’s supposed to catch a train for his trip. His inebriation becomes so severe that he misses his ride and is stuck in town alone for a long weekend, with neither his brother nor his partner around to help him fight his demons. These were extremely rigid and restrictive confines to make any kind of drama that thoughtfully engaged with the complexities of living with alcoholism.

After accepting a medical malpractice case that touches a nerve, he finally finds a sense of purpose in doing what’s right. Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. A study performed in 1996 and again in 2017 found a monumental increase in the depiction of alcohol brands in the top 100 films of the year. The first pass found 140 depictions of branded alcohol and 20 years later, that number has jumped to 282, a 96% increase. The study accounted for film rating and found that PG and G films both frequently featured branded alcohol.

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Ben is a portrait of utter self-destruction as he eventually reaches his goal by dying in just a few weeks as a result of his disease. For this reason, this film is one of the most tragic Selecting the Most Suitable Sober House for Addiction Recovery, as there can be no redemption for Ben. He fulfills his self-imposed destiny as an alcoholic that feels he has no reason left to live.