Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

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:

Stress | Teetotaler | Gutter | Descent | Grim

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carl Arnold	...	Loud Man (uncredited)
Roger Barrett	...	Abe (uncredited)
Russ Bender	...	(uncredited)
Mary Benoit	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Mel Blanc	...	Cartoon Characters (voice) (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Gladys, the Cleaning Lady (uncredited)
Lynn Borden	...	(uncredited)
Dick Crockett	...	(uncredited)
Jennifer Edwards	...	(uncredited)
Ella Ethridge	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Lisa Guiraut	...	Belly Dancer (uncredited)
Chuck Hicks	...	(uncredited)
Barbara Hines	...	Guest (uncredited)
Charlene Holt	...	Guest (uncredited)
Tai Yen Horowitz	...	(uncredited)
Jerry Jensen	...	(uncredited)
Rita Kenaston	...	Tenant (uncredited)
James Lanphier	...	(uncredited)
John Bard Manulis	...	(uncredited)
Edward O'Brien	...	(uncredited)
Doye O'Dell	...	Houston Oil Man (uncredited)
Pat O'Malley	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Al Paige	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Peggy Patten	...	(uncredited)
Jack Riley	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Tom Rosqui	...	Bettor (uncredited)
Myrna Ross	...	(uncredited)
Doc Scortt	...	(uncredited)
Robert 'Buddy' Shaw	...	Tenant (uncredited)
Stanley Sober	...	(uncredited)
Olan Soule	...	Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Katherine Squire	...	Mrs. Nolan (uncredited)
Florence Stark	...	(uncredited)
Lynn Terry	...	(uncredited)
John Truax	...	(uncredited)
Charles Watts	...	Landry, Houston Oil Man (uncredited)
Charles Wood	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Blake Edwards

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
J.P. Miller		writer (as JP Miller)

Produced by
Martin Manulis	....	producer

Original Music by
Henry Mancini

Cinematography by
Philip H. Lathrop		(as Phil Lathrop)

Film Editing by
Patrick McCormack

Art Direction by
Joseph C. Wright		(as Joseph Wright)

Set Decoration by
George James Hopkins

Costume Design by
Donfeld		(as Don Feld)

Makeup Department
Gordon Bau	....	makeup supervisor
Jean Burt Reilly	....	hair styles supervisor
Myrl Stoltz	....	hair stylist: Lee Remick

Production Management
Jack McEdwards	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carter De Haven Jr.	....	assistant director
Jack Cunningham	....	assistant director (uncredited)
William F. Sheehan	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jack Solomon	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard H. Kline	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bain	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)
Rolly Bundock	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Larry Bunker	....	musician: vibes (uncredited)
Gene Cipriano	....	musician: saxophone (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa	....	musician: French horn solo, title song (uncredited)
Dominic Frontiere	....	musician: accordion (uncredited)
Ronnie Lang	....	musician: flute (uncredited)
Richard Nash	....	musician: trombone (uncredited)
Ted Nash	....	musician: alto saxophone (uncredited)
Jack Sperling	....	musician: drums (uncredited)

Other crew
James Lanphier	....	dialogue supervisor

Production Companies

• Jalem Productions
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1962) (Spain) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1967) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

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:

Film debut of Lynn Borden.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Joe returns to Ellis Arnesen's greenhouse to pay the first instalment of the five hundred dollars, the first shot of Ellis shows him writing something on a "podium." As he turns around to face Joe, a hand appears below the podium to support it, but there's no one else in the greenhouse.

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 "Hill Street Blues: Days of Swine and Roses (#7.19)" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Rock-a-Bye Baby

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")