DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES

US, 1962, 116 minutes, Black and white.
Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford, Jack Klugman, Alan Hewitt, Tom Palmer.
Directed by Blake Edwards.

Days of Wine and Roses is an enigmatic title for a film about alcoholics. The tone is nostalgic. In 1945 Ray Milland won the Oscar for his performance as an alcoholic in Billy Wilder's "The Lost Weekend". This was considered a Hollywood breakthrough in the treatment of serious themes. Since then many films about alcoholics have been made. This is one of the most striking, especially as it has Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick (both nominated for Oscars) in the roles of the alcoholics. The film is very sombre, and does not offer very much hope at all. The interaction of husband and wife trying to help one another and then bringing one another down is full of pathos. Filmed in sombre black and white, it was directed by Blake Edwards who is perhaps best known for his comedies, especially the Pink Panther series. Most audiences who want to see a good serious film about drink and alcoholics would profit by this one.

1. What was the total impact of this film? How strong? How salutary? Or was it merely a moral tract: the meaning of the title from the poem? Did the theme song add anything to the film or detract from it? The use of the music throughout the film? The starkness of the black and white photography?

2. How well did the film present its moods? How did it change from mood to mood?

3. How successful was the presentation of the rat-race? How distasteful a life that Joe Clay was leading? As a picture of typical modern society? What criticism were implicit in this presentation of society? The parties etc.? Kirsten's presence?

4. Why did Joe resort to alcohol? What effect did it have on him? How did it lull his conscience? What bad effects did it have on him? How did it succeed in deceiving him about its effects?

5. Did the film moralise at any time? Did it change from presentation to moralising at any time? If it moralised, how effective was it? How appropriate?

6. Joe Clay - symbolism of the name - How successful as a P.R.man? Was he merely the equivalent of a pimp? Was it natural that he wanted to forget this kind of job? What attracted him to Kirsten after his misjudgement of her? Why did they fall in love? Did they marry too precipitately? Why did he so insist on her sharing his drinking habits? What change did their child have on them? Why did Kirsten beg him to drink? Why did he go downhill after his marriage? with his jobs? Why couldn't he handle them? How good a man was he? How average a man? How typical of the ordinary drinker?

7. How attractive was Kirsten at first? She was presented as a lady. In her romance with Joe? As a mother? Why did she begin to drink with him? How much of an effort was it for her? Why did she begin to go downhill? Why did she become unreliable? Why did she rely more and more on drink and not do anything else? And yet she remained the mother all the time.

8. What impression did the binges have on the audience? What effect did they have on Joe and Kirsten? How dramatic was this? How well filmed were the binges?

9. Was Kirsten's father a good man? Was he too severe? In her upbringing? In his memory of her mother? In the regrets about his life? Were you glad when he offered Joe and Kirsten a home? Did you hope that they would succeed?

10. How disappointing was the farcical evening they had drinking together in the bedroom? With the father then intervening? And the contrast when Joe destroyed the glasshouse? How important was this destruction sequence? How convincing was it? Why?

11. The impact of Joe in the straight-jacket? In the style in which it was filmed? How horrifying? How realistic?

12. Was the appearance of Jim and Alcoholics Anonymous presented credibly? was it an adequate picture of Alcoholics Anonymous and its work? What was you reaction to Jim and to the Association? To Joe's going to the meeting? To Jim’s presentation of Jim and to Joe's presentation of himself?

13. Could you understand Kirsten's pride in not going to Alcoholics Anonymous? In her not admitting her problem to herself?