Days of Wine and Roses

US (1962): Drama

In this realistically harrowing addiction melodrama, Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon), a promising adman, meet his future wife Kirsten (Lee Remick) at a party. Once married, the pressures of his business lead Joe to seek solace in liquor. Kirsten joins him in his nocturnal drinking sessions, and before long both are confirmed alcoholics. After several frightening episodes, Joe is able to shake the habit thanks to AA, but Kirsten finds it impossible to get through the day without liquor. The two split up, although Joe clings to the hope that someday he and Kirsten will be reunited, if for no reason other than the sake of their young daughter. The events in Days of Wine and Roses are mostly related in flashback, bookended by the testimony of Joe at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Blake Edwards directs for Warner Bros. Cast also features Charles Bickford, Jack Klugman and Jack Alberson.

J.P. Miller adapted the screenplay from his own 1958 "Playhouse 90" television script. The TV version starred Cliff Robertson and Piper Laurie, both of whom dearly coveted the film version but neither of whom had enough box-office pull. To avoid losing out on the screen version of another of his TV plays, "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon," Robertson bought up the story rights -- and the result was his Oscar-winning performance in Charly (1968). ~ (Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide)

 Use this link to view the original theatrical trailer for Days of Wine and Roses on TCM.com.

5 nominations, 1 Award