I've read in Jack Lemmon's biography in his page that he actually had a bad addiction to the bottle in real life. What a sad, coincidental revelation that mirrors the raging alcoholic Jack plays in DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES. May God rest your soul, Jack.
"You're crazy. I'm a neurotic nut, but you're crazy!" - Felix Unger
Alcoholic or Not ...
Wasn't the movie a rip-off of Reefer Madness? I've never seen such insiduous behavior by anyone like that in real life. Alcoholics can be a bit over the edge but I thought the movie was just a stark; way too stark, portrayal of a couple of nice people.
Oh dear, you really deserve all the criticism for what you've said. The film depicts very accurately what it's like to be an alcoholic and the 'threesome' senario. I know, I've recently spent the last two years in and out of rehab and hospitals, lost my job working for a rather well know film studio, and had to move out of London to live with my aging parents. All because of a failed threesome relationship, and all before my 35th birthday. Believe me, it's been stark. Here's to a better life and future.
shareReefer Madness was total nonsense, a scare movie with absolutely no sense of reality ("Gimme some reefers!" and no one has ever died from smoklng too much grass nor lost all control and murdered someone.) IN addition, marijuana is not physically addictive, though it can have psychological addictive propertiea. But when a alcoholic needs that next drink, that next bottle (and they will hide bottles anywhere) they are capable of anything. I guess I am glad for you that you've never been exposed to a real wet drunk. I have seen it and it's a sad, sad sight.
shareYou should count yourself luck that you have never seen anyone totally destroyed by alcohol. To be frank, this film could have shown a far deeper bottom. It's almost too hard for me to watch, but, as one of the last gasps of the old studio system, it sure packs a wallop.
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You couldn't really just have this couple that occasionally drinks and never has anything dramatic happen though.
shareI've seen a clip of an episode of Inside the Actor's Studio featuring Jack Lemmon. Jack mentions that he was an alcoholic in real life. I would like to see the entire episode to see if Lemmon mentions more about it.
"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."
you might think Lipton knows his stuff but Lemmon blew him away by admitting he was an alcoholic........completely floored him! The crowd went silent
jon
who the hell isn't alcoholic these days??
shareThere are 2 kinds of alcoholics. Those that are practicing, and those that are in recovery. You will find virtually all the recovering alcoholics in A.A. It is tragic that the road to A.A. is filled with broken marriages,jail, hospitals, and the like. It is the miracle that they have found A.A. like the character Lemmon plays in this film.
shareBecause I have enjoyed seeing this film over and over and also admired the work of Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick I decided to do a little bit of research on the film and it's stars this afternoon. Apparently, both Jack and Lee were recovering alcoholics in AA. I couldn't find their sobriety dates, so I can't relate when either one of them joined the fellowship. I have a hunch that it was AFTER they made this picture. Just a hunch. Now I understand why the authenticity of their performances rang so true. I just hope that nobody attempts to produce a remake. The Mancini score can't be duplicated in terms of quality, the performances can't be recaptured, and the ending is final. So why try with a remake or probably even worse, a sequel? Of course, with so much bad product coming out of Hollywood today, what else can we expect? Oh, wait! How about something that is new and fresh and is saturated with creativity? Days of Wine and Roses can be poorly emulated but the original stands as an enduring classic for many reasons which shall never change.
shareRest easy. It is unlikely Days of Wine and Roses would ever be remade. Media depends on advertising, and hardly anyone spends more money on advertising than the fine folks who make, sell and distribute alcohol. Did you ever notice how those movies like Clean and Sober and Bright Lights, Big City were the exception in the late eighties, early nineties, and then they just sort of stopped making films dealing somewhat realistically with drug or alcohol abuse? "Where's the market?" I can just hear some studio heads saying, "we don't need to remake Days of Wine and Roses. We're going to make Beerfest II."
Think about it. I'm not saying there aren't films where alcohol abuse is not portrayed realistically any more, but I can't think of any right now. Please interject if you know of any.
When a Man Loves a Woman was a good film also. Very realistic in its portrayal of alcoholism...
"Honey, get me an anxiety pill."
I will look up MLaW in just a moment.
In complement to what I stated above. The second largest PAC contributor to the House and Senate candidates in the 2006 election cycle, according to Federal Election Commission data, was the National Beer Wholesale Association PAC, $2.9 million dollars. I wonder what that money will buy in upcoming legislation.
and then they just sort of stopped making films dealing somewhat realistically with drug or alcohol abuse? "Where's the market?" I can just hear some studio heads saying, "we don't need to remake Days of Wine and Roses. We're going to make Beerfest II."
Both excellent films, in my humble opinion.
I love that Huxley quote.
Requiem for a Dream is an AMAZING, UNDERSEEN, and UNKNOWN movie. Ellen Burstyn's performance is nothing short of distressing, and Jennifer COnnely (How young she is here!) and Jared Leto are all equally incredible in dealing with their drug addictions, legal and otherwise. The scene where Connelly is at the "party" is not erotic, but thouroughly frightening in showing what people will do to get their drugs. And Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas is equally remarkable as a man at the end of his alchoholic rope, determined to finish his life with a final big time bender. Not cheery mmovies, but so real to the problems they depict and the hell they bring into so many lives.
shareEllen Bursytn wa RIPPED OFF! She was up for an Oscar for her performance here and lost to Julia Roberts for "Erin Brokovitch"? PUH-LEEZE! But, as my brother said, "Nobody saw this movie." It was hard to watch, but very very incredible.
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The scene where Connelly is at the "party" is not erotic, but thouroughly frightening in showing what people will do to get their drugs.
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"you might think Lipton knows his stuff but Lemmon blew him away by admitting he was an alcoholic........completely floored him! The crowd went silent"
He also (apparently) caught Robert Osborne completely off guard with this admission that same year (1998) on TCM's "Private Screenings" (an interview show). Though it's not too surprising that Mr. Osborne was (momentarily) left scrambling for a response, it's somewhat shocking that James Lipton would have been surprised, given his legendarily scrupulous research prior to interviewing his subjects on-camera.......
SAVE FERRIS
Does anyone have a link to that interview? I'm having trouble finding it.
I detest cheap sentiment.
In the DVD commentary Blake Edwards tells a story about going to a bar with Jack after the movie and noticing how much they drink, not just that day, but all the time. He asks Jack about it and he says Jack gave responses "just like the dialog in the movie". Blake says it took him another year to realize he was an alcoholic. It took Jack a few more.
shareLemmon is amazing in this film. He is absolutely one of the great actors of the twentieth century- very underrated.
His portrayal of Alcoholism is dead-on. The desperation, the loss of control, the fragility, the emotional attachment to the times when they weren't a married couple, but a 'threesome' (him, her and the booze), he does it all spectacularly well. One of my favourite performances of all time.
Mr. Steve, I couldn't agree more...
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I just watched "Days Of Wine & Roses" again on DVD a few nights ago. What an amazing picture! Lemmon's portrait on an alchoholic was dead-on. And, as another mentioned on this thread earlier.. both him and Edwards were heavy drinkers at the time of the making of this film. If you love this film, as I do, buy it and listen to the commentary. As uncomfortable as Edwards is in discussing his movie created so long ago, there are many little "Magic Times" to be found within. And, coincidentally, wendi14501, GlenGarry GlenRoss is my other favorite movie of all time. Brilliant stuff!
"Ignore these four words" (George Carlin)
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You hit the nail on the head.
shareI've heard that when Jack said the line
"My name is Joe Clay and I'm an alcoholic"
many people noted that he wasn't acting, he was being himself, admitting that he had a drinking problem. What a poignant performance; I loved Gregory Peck, but Jack's performance killed 3 mockingbirds (Joke is courtesy of Blake Edward's audio commentary).
Current Favorite Song: "Isis"--Bob Dylan
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Yes. He admitted it while being interviewed by James Lipton on the Inside the Actors Studio show.
shareAwwwwww :[
When I first found out that he admitted it, I just wanted to hug him.
Bless him. I'm so glad it didn't affect any of his performances after DOW&R.
Jack Lemmon: America's Sweetheart
"It's Magic Time"
James Lipton, not that it really matters...
"Honey, get me an anxiety pill."
Not true! Mary Jane is addictive to an addictive personality just the same as alcohol. They both can ruin lives....I've lived through it myself! Let me explain something, tokers rationalize their habit my saying they can take it or leave it;every user I know is a habitual user...EVERY DAY. ADDICTION
shareMArijuana can be psychologically addictive, but it is not physically addictive like alcohol is. If you stop smoking pot there are no physical symptoms. If you stop drinking there are DT's, delirium tremors.
Besides the hard drugs, chocolate and sugar are also very addictive. I know, I have given up chocolate 9 times! The first time for 2 yrs. (while I lived in SF, no small feat!) the second time for 1&1/2 yrs., the last time for 2 days. Then my dad had a stroke and I HAD to have some! I eat some every single day.
TV is also addictive. I read an article once where some people were paid not to watch TV. At first they thought it was great and went out and did more fun things. Then everyone started to get aggressive, bosses on employees, men on their wives, wives on their kids. And every single one said, "Keep your money, we want our TV's back." NOT ONE person could go the length of time (6 mos. I think) w/o TV.
Shopping can be an addiction.
Romance can be an addiction.
The truth is, we are a very addictive society and just about everybody is hooked on something.
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And in 1915 they didn't know jack schmidt. Sorry, but it's been well proven that pot is not physically addictive and is not an addictive substance. Psychological addiction is another matter and almost anything can fall under that. The simple FACT of the matter is that alcohol is a far more addictive substance than marijuana.
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Chances are you won't wreck your car while eating chocolate. Are you safe driving when you've been smoking pot? I remember getting high and then driving the wrong way up a major boulevard one time - I've never had a problem like that while driving and drinking a chocolate shake. Whats really funny is that people who smoke dope have all sorts of excuses and they bend the facts all over the place so they can justify their behavior - just like the way people in bars "celebrate" every birthday, raise at work, child born, etc with another round of drinks - even if they don't know the celebrant.
You can take any bad habit to a degree of ridiculousness - does that make it an addiction? But flat out altering your mind in order to bend yourself through each day with booze, pot or drugs is a trap.
I don't think it's the weed you have a problem with, anybody who does something that irresponsible while driving a car shouldn't be allowed to drive in any state.
You're right about the driving. It's one of the greatest responsibilities people have. When you get behind the wheel, the most important things are the road and the obstacles, and the signs. Concentration is important or you could miss anything, and you don't have to be impaired to not pay attention. How many people are multi-tasking while driving? That unfinished job at work, thst list of what needs completion, etc. I bet a few.
If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world
TV is also addictive. I read an article once where some people were paid not to watch TV. At first they thought it was great and went out and did more fun things. Then everyone started to get aggressive, bosses on employees, men on their wives, wives on their kids. And every single one said, "Keep your money, we want our TV's back." NOT ONE person could go the length of time (6 mos. I think) w/o TV.
I was a very heavy drinkerfor a very very long time and stopped cold turkey, but was blessed, I didn't have any effects from drinking or stopping. I stopped cold turkey Dec 31, 1998 and haven't touched a drop since
shareThe truth is, we are a very addictive society and just about everybody is hooked on something.
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I don't think he was
Yes because during the filming of "Days of Wine and Roses", Marilyn Monroe and Jack's father died in the same year. So in the emotional scenes, it seemed simple to act out any dramatic parts. He admitted that he turned to alcohol around that time but he gave it up around 1965.
Jack Lemmon: America's Sweetheart
"It's Magic Time"
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wendi14501,
Blake Edwards was the director of this very fine superb film, not Billy Wilder.
Jack Lemmon: America's Sweetheart
"It's Magic Time"
I'm OK without the vomiting. It's a popular trend now in films that want to appear "gritty," but usually it's just a distraction. And, as has been pointed out, Blake Edwards directed this, not Billy Wilder. I'm not sure if Blake was an alcoholic -- or if he vomited much, for that matter, but again, I'm OK without knowing.
shareJack Lemmon was most definitely not Jewish. He was born a Catholic of Catholic parents. Maybe you're somehow (bizarely) mixing him up with his buddy Walter Matthau, who was Jewish.
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I often find sex in films these days an act of desperation rather than sensuality. I haven't seen sexuality portrayed with the depth of films like "Klute" for decades now, and I've given up trying.
sharehe actually admitted it on a few tv interviews.
shareI agree. I really enjoyed this movie and have watched it 2 1/2 times... i couldn't complete it the 3rd time.
shareYes he was and he even mentioned that he was in some interviews.
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