Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writer:

J.P. Miller (writer)

Release Date:

26 December 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

This, in its own terrifying way, is a love story.

Plot:

An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together.

Plot Keywords:

Drinking | Alcoholic | Public Relations | Share | Secretary

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Jack Lemmon	...	Joe Clay
Lee Remick	...	Kirsten Arnesen Clay
Charles Bickford	...	Ellis Arnesen
Jack Klugman	...	Jim Hungerford
Alan Hewitt	...	Rad Leland
Tom Palmer	...	Ballefoy
Debbie Megowan	...	Debbie Clay
Maxine Stuart	...	Dottie
Jack Albertson	...	Trayner
Ken Lynch	...	Liquor Store Proprietor

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Spain:18 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 (w)

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Jalem Productions

Trivia:

Jack Riley's film debut.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Jo is in the hospital for the first time, a doctor and two orderlies come and check up on him from the fenced window of his cell door. But in the very next shot, the only shadow that is cast on Jo is that of the fenced window, not of the three men looking at him from the window.

Quotes:

Kirsten Arnesen Clay: Thanks for the compliment, but I know how I look. This is the way I look when I'm sober. It's enough to make a person drink, wouldn't you say? You see, the world looks so dirty to me when I'm not drinking. Joe, remember Fisherman's Wharf? The water when you looked too close? That's the way the world looks to me when I'm not drinking.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Rude Awakening: Naked Again (#1.1)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Days of Wine and Roses

Degradation of Booze

In San Francisco, the public relations Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon) drinks everyday to "socialize" with his clients. After an incidental meeting with the secretary Kirsten Arnesen (Lee Remick), they date and sooner they get married. When they have a baby girl, Joe becomes alcoholic, Kirsten begins to drink to follow her husband, and both become alcoholics. Joe loses his job and they destroy their lives. After many trials, Joe is treated, desintoxicated and supported by the AA, while Kirsten remains a chronic drunkard.

"Days of Wine and Roses" is a realistic sad drama that exposes the life of a drunken couple from their top to the bottom of the well. Together with "The Lost Weekend", I believe these are the two best movies Hollywood properly and seriously produced about this important subject. The sad story has no final redemption or commercial conclusion, and is a must see. The gorgeous Lee Remick and the excellent Jack Lemmon have magnificent performances and deserved their nomination to the Oscar. The wonderful cinematography and the magnificent unforgettable song of Henri Mancini complete this high-class classic film. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Vício Maldito" ("Damned Vicious")