Review of The Lost Weekend (1945) by Olli P — 23 May 2008

It may be over 60 years old, but The Lost Weekend is still for me the best film ever made about addiction in general and problem drinking in particular. Ray Milland's performance as the booze-sodden writer Don Birnam richly deserved the Oscar it received.

The film is brutally frank about the degradation of alcoholism; we are shown its ability to turn a basically decent human being into a self-loathing thief who lies to friends, family and himself in order to fulfil his craving.

At the same time, however, the film is honest enough to acknowledge the brief, joyous release that drink can provide, eloquently expressed by Birnam in one justly famous speech from an award-winning script full of superb dialogue.

Perhaps the fashions and the music seem a little quaint now, but the basic condition of alcoholism doesn't change, and it's explored here with a frankness that still startles. Given recent headlines about binge drinking, perhaps The Lost Weekend is now more relevant than ever.