MovieChat Forums > The Lost Weekend Discussion > Does it REALLY get this bad??

Does it REALLY get this bad??

posted 14 years ago by learyblaine
33 replies | jump to latest

I've known only one honest-to-god alcoholic, and even he (from what I saw) wasn't as bad as what's depicted here. Does it really get like this?

I found the movie to be amazing ... not just "for it's time", but for any time. I watch a lot of movies, and I don't recall addiction being depicted this starkly and, well, nakedly. Scary stuff.

What an achievement for Milland! He exhibited every different aspect of the character -- the Ivy Leaguer, the writer, the gentleman, the addict, the charmer, the thief. And each was portrayed vividly and thoroughly.

Yeah, the ending was too easy. But that's probably the thing that's most indicative of the era in which it was made.

[–] infinity8 9 years ago

Alcoholics have a lot of range in how bad it gets. A lot of alcoholics are high-functioning and can hold down jobs without too many problems. Others, particularly binge drinkers, have a tendency to miss work after a bender and get fired. Some people manage to hide their drinking for years, others can only hide specific incidences of drinking. Some people have 18 drinks a day and die in their 40s or 50s. Others drink two pints at a time and die of alcohol poisoning at age 26. How bad it gets depends on a number of factors, including when and if a person ever stops drinking.

[–] JoDwightFrye 9 years ago

It is so so much worse. I've known people who have ended up in another city during black outs. NO clue how they got there...

I love Jesus....but I drink a little.

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

No, it gets worse.

[–] Lomv1971 9 years ago

Yes it does.

[–] davidtrudeau 8 years ago

It is worst than it can be shown on film.
It comes to the point were you canot drink enough alcool to stop the physical and mental instability.