MovieChat Forums > The Lost Weekend Discussion > Has he written the book, or not?

Has he written the book, or not?

posted 18 years ago by jbsalmonnc
13 replies | jump to latest

So...at the ending, has he finished the book or not? Most people think, No, and I agree. But some people think he's written it.

Which is it?

[–] Camera_Obscura12 18 years ago

I think its up to us, the audience to decide. Did he clean up, sell his novel and live a happy life with Helen or did he just sink back into the downward spiral?

Remember, its not easy to give up an addiction. If he did clean up it would have taken alot of work.

[–] Max_Magician 18 years ago

Considering the movie was based on a semiautobiographical novel, I think it's pretty safe to say that Don did in fact write and sell his novel.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] gnolti 17 years ago

Charles Jackson ended up hitting bottom again and never wrote anything on par with LW. I believe he ended up committing hari kiri.

I am in a blissful state, so don't bug me.

[–] shaundee 17 years ago

semiautobiographical

Nice word, you play with guns much?

[–] ebolart 17 years ago

aww, he didn't understand the long word! how cute he is!

idiot

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 15 years ago

Parallels the life of John O'Brien (wrote Leaving Las Vegas). LLV was semiautbiographical (as the LW), Obrien never overcame his addiction either, and like Jackson, Obrien ultimately killed himself.

[–] peterclose 15 years ago

Charles Jackson stopped drinking in 1939, and apparently had a relatively good life, including further literary success, a marriage, and two daughters, until he started drinking again in 1950. He eventually split from his family and his career went downhill, until he killed himself in the Chelsea Hotel in 1968. But he wasn't a complete failure, and the book is pretty memorable.

[–] spirit_30 15 years ago

I have my doubts about him writing the book ... I mean he told the whole story ... or most of it to Ned the barkeep ... all he had to do was go and write out what he told him ... but he couldn't do it ... he had to go get a drink ... he had more to write about with trying to steal money out of the woman's purse and being put in ... again ... the drunk tank ... remember he said he tried the "cure" before, but it didn't work ... this guy was a serious alcoholic ... writing may have been the first step on a long hard road to recovery, but not a cure ... since his enabling girl friend said she rather have him drunk than dead would be a green light for him to go back on a binge when his writer fears hit him again... also ... just because he wrote a book doesn't guarantee it will get published and that it will sell ... if nothing came of his work ... as before ... that will be a trigger for another binge ...

[–] agribbo 15 years ago

I don't understand how so many of you can say he didn't write the book. As has been said, the movie was adapted from Jackson's more-than-semi-autobiographical novel. Clearly he wrote the book.

Maybe you are all taking the film as entirely separate from the book (?)

[–] mallenorg 14 years ago

Probably not. Maybe.