I have been blessed in my life not to have an addiction to liquor. I don’t like the taste of alcohol and usually, one drink can get me quite buzzed or almost drunk. I am what some would call “a cheap date.”
Many are not so fortunate. For them, once you start, it is difficult to stop. Alcoholism is an insidious disease that hasn’t always been understood. It has taken years for society to recognize the dangers of drinking too much by not being able to put the glass or bottle down. Many will say, it makes them feel good or takes the edge off of everyday situations. Some love the way it can loosen their boundaries and make them the life of the party. I never liked how it made me feel. I was always an outgoing person, so I didn’t need the additional fuel.
Addictions can be tough to recognize. Denial is always the first reaction. I know this because I have watched my husband finally accept the fact that he is an alcoholic, who is coming up on his tenth year of sobriety on October 20th. He was luckier than most and was able to stop drinking cold turkey. I am very proud of him and his choices to want to live a better, sober life.
This topic was not talked about in the 50’s and 60’s. Everyone drank. It was considered normal. If you wanted to stop, there weren’t a bunch of self-help books or programs around until Alcoholics Anonymous was created. This was a game changer, but how could Hollywood create a film featuring this problem with all its challenges and pitfalls? Cue the phenomenal movie…DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES. Starting in 1962, the life of a drunk would never be the same nor would the topic be swept under the rug.
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES was created from a small television show story. It was expanded through the genius of the director, Blake Edwards. (BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S and THE PINK PANTHER with all its sequels) He wanted to make an honest depiction of what was happening all over the world when it came to “business” drinking. He insisted the ending not be happily ever after. Many walked out of the theater when previewing the film. Blake stood his ground, and audiences were given the truth. It wasn’t pretty. He also went into rehab soon after this film was completed. He said in later interviews, it saved his life.
The incomparable Jack Lemon was cast as Joe Clay. His research included attending AA meetings for several months and visiting the drunk tanks and wards at various hospitals. He has said it gave him immeasurable insight into his character. His performance was nothing less than a master class in acting. He was brilliant. His highs and lows tore my heart apart. His greenhouse scene made me weep, and his moments in a straitjacket just broke me. Jack is a consummate actor who can not only tickle your funny bone but also deliver gut punches time and time again. He, too, went into rehab after the filming ended. Thirty years later, he admitted he was an alcoholic.
Lee Remick portrayed Kirsten. She was just as impressive in her characterization. It is not easy portraying a drunk while on screen. It is difficult to not make it a cliche or trite. She soared every second and I was devastated watching her boozy progression. The chemistry between Jack and Lee was like lightning bolts across each frame. Their ability to make audiences believe was frightening and shocking.
TDOWAR only received one Oscar for Best Song. (It was nominated in four other categories.) Henry Mancini wrote a musical number with the movie title that will always be remembered for its haunting lyrics and based on the poem by Ernest Dowson. The story also recently just opened on Broadway as a musical.
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES gave credence and publicity to AA. It shed light on the elephant in the room. It offered the film industry permission to admit their imperfections and begin the necessary work to be better. DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES is a true classic and a catalyst for change. It showcases the actor’s gut-wrenching, dream, dramatic roles. It is a film we all should run towards and embrace with hope for a better outcome. It is available on TCM.
