Days of Wine and Roses (1962)

An alcoholic marries a young woman and systematically addicts her to booze so that they can share his "passion" together.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writer:

J.P. Miller (as JP Miller)

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford

Won 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jack Lemmon	...	Joe Clay
Lee Remick	...	Kirsten Arnesen Clay
Charles Bickford	...	Ellis Arnesen
Jack Klugman	...	Jim Hungerford
Alan Hewitt	...	Rad Leland
Tom Palmer	...	Ballefoy
Debbie Megowan	...	Debbie Clay
Maxine Stuart	...	Dottie
Jack Albertson	...	Trayner

Storyline

Joe Clay is a top-notch public-relations man. Anything a client wants, Joe can arrange, from dancing girls to an article in a prominent magazine. But part of the job is drinking, and Joe's ability to consume alcohol seems boundless. When he meets the very pretty Kirsten Arnesen, she prefers chocolate to alcohol; Joe's solution is Brandy Alexander, which is made up of brandy and crème de cacao. Joe and Kirsten eventually marry, but their love can't prevent the downward spiral brought on by alcohol. They try desperately to break the habit but continually relapse until only one of them manages to break free.

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Plot Keywords:

drinking | alcoholic | plant in title | violence | in laws | 

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Taglines:

This, in its own terrifying way, is a love story.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Twentieth Century Fox originally purchased the property but soon dropped it from their film slate due to the heavy costs incurred by the studio's production of Cleopatra (1963). They sold it to Warner Brothers.

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Goofs

At the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, both Jim and Joe say their full names; last names are usually not used in AA meetings, which is how people remain "anonymous".

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Quotes

[Joe forces Kirsten to look in a mirror]
Joe Clay: I walked by Union Square Bar. I was going to go in. Then I saw myself - my reflection in the window - and I thought, "I wonder who that bum is?" And then I saw it was me. Now look at me. I'm a bum. Look at me! Look at you. You're a bum. Look at you. And look at us. Look at us. C'mon look at us! See? A couple of bums.

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Co-Dependent's Day (2004)

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Soundtracks

I Only Have Eyes for You
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Played while Joe's on the telephone at the restaurant

User Reviews

A Poignant Love Story from a Simpler Time

I always saw this movie more as a love story than one of a couple trapped in alcoholism. Joe and Kirsten had that chemistry that drew them to each other through good times and bad, and I have never seen another film that depicted enduring love like this one. I can still recall the characters' honest, plaintive statements to each other and how they reminded me of how it feels when you're with someone who truly fulfills you. Joe to Kirsten on their first date: "Short story? Boy meets girl...beautiful girl, nice, the only kind of girl a guy should bother about...."

Kirsten to Joe, desperately trying to hold on to what they have after her infidelities: "I never gave anything out of myself to them....love is the only thing that stops you from being lonely, and I didn't have that..."

Joe to the AA counselor, who warns him about what alcohol can do to a marital relationship: "You don't understand, there's no trouble between us....we're in love..."

Joe, in the depths of alcoholism, tremors, shaking..."I have to find my wife....I love her...I love her..."

This movie is sad and somewhat draining to watch, but also does provide useful insight into the insidious disease of alcohol addiction, along with being a very moving, romantic drama of two people haunted by troubled childhoods, struggling to keep the sincere commitment they have to each other alive.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 1963 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Days of Wine and Roses

Filming Locations:

1800 Pacific Ave, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$8,123,077

Company Credits

Production Co:

Jalem Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1