Come Fill the Cup (1951)

Alcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley Dolan. After six years on the wagon he gets his job back and devotes himself to other recovering ... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Ivan Goff (screen play), Ben Roberts (screen play),

Stars:

James Cagney, Phyllis Thaxter, Raymond Massey

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Cagney	...	Lew Marsh
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Paula Copeland
Raymond Massey	...	John Ives
James Gleason	...	Charley Dolan
Gig Young	...	Boyd Copeland
Selena Royle	...	Mrs. Dolly Copeland
Larry Keating	...	Julian Cuscaden
Charlita	...	Maria Diego
Sheldon Leonard	...	Lennie Garr
Douglas Spencer	...	Ike Bashaw
John Kellogg	...	Don Bell
William Bakewell	...	Hal Ortman
John Alvin	...	Travis Ashbourne, Reporter

Storyline

Alcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley Dolan. After six years on the wagon he gets his job back and devotes himself to other recovering alcoholics. His boss enlists his help to sober up his nephew, Boyd Copeland, who has married Lew's old sweetheart. Boyd, who is involved with a cabaret singer and the mob, presents quite a challenge.

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Plot Keywords:

alcohol | newspaper | based on novel

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alcool

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)

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Soundtracks

"Blanke's Concerto"
(uncredited)
Music by Ray Heindorf

User Reviews

"unfortunately, the trip to Miami seems to have slipped my mind."

I consider it to be one of Cagney's best. A very entertaining film, not merely a morality play, complete with a good plot, witty dialog, and humor. In one scene, the local crime boss (Sheldon Leonard) "forces" two alcoholics to drink whiskey at gunpoint. In an ironic twist, one of the drunks deciding whether or not to quit the bottle in the film is Gig Young, a real-life alcoholic who later killed his wife and himself. The difference between this film and most others is its' contention that the alcoholic must want to quit, and that this desire must come from one's self. I nearly said "anti-booze" film, but that is not true. In it, most of the characters are able to drink without becoming alcoholics, just like in real life. Alcohol aside, this is a classic crusading newspaperman versus gangster story of the 40s and 50s with music and humorous twists for spice. This is definitely one of my favorite films.