The Lost Weekend

1945
Approved
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

41K

YOUR RATING

Ray Milland, Doris Dowling, Phillip Terry, and Jane Wyman in The Lost Weekend (1945)

Play trailer2:08

1 Video

99+ Photos

Film Noir Drama

The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

41K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 4 Oscars
- 16 wins & 3 nominations total

Mrs. Foley
(as Anita Bolster)

Lilian Fontaine

Mrs. St. James

Frank Orth

Opera Cloak Room Attendant

Lewis L. Russell

Mr. St. James

Andy Andrews

Alcoholic
(uncredited)

Gene Ashley

Male Nurse
(uncredited)

Walter Baldwin

Man from Albany
(uncredited)

Harry Barris

Pianist at Harry & Joe's
(uncredited)

Ian Begg

Undetermined Secondary Role
(uncredited)

Eddie Borden

Drunk in Alcoholic Ward
(uncredited)

Jess Lee Brooks

Hospital Patient
(uncredited)

Director
- Billy Wilder
Writers
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Best Picture Winners by Year

See the complete list of Best Picture winners. For fun, use the "sort order" function to rank by IMDb rating and other criteria.

See the complete list

List

More like this

8.1

Ace in the Hole

7.2

Gentleman's Agreement

7.0

Going My Way

7.6

Mrs. Miniver

7.4

All the King's Men

7.8

You Can't Take It with You

7.6

From Here to Eternity

7.1

The Life of Emile Zola

7.7

7.6

7.6

7.3

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
Billy Wilder claimed the liquor industry offered Paramount Pictures $5 million not to release the film; he also suggested that he would have accepted had they offered it to him personally.

Goofs
When the waiter gives Don the check at Harry & Joe's and he reaches for it, the glass, ashtray, napkin, and cigarette all change position between camera shots.

Quotes
[Nat moves to wipe away the circle of whisky from Don Birnam's glass]
Don Birnam: Don't wipe it away, Nat. Let me have my little vicious circle. You know, the circle is the perfect geometric figure. No end, no beginning.

Connections
Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

Soundtracks
La Traviata
(1853) (uncredited)
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Drinking Song) Performed by John Garris and Theodora Lynch with The San Francisco Opera Company

User reviews197

Review

Featured review

9/10

The first great film on alcoholism.

As a recovering alcoholic (14 years sober) this remains as the first great film dealing with alcoholism. Ray Milland"s great performance shows realistically the insanity of drinking and the struggles. The promises and hidden bottles will ring true to anyone who has dealt with the problem. Billy Wilder's career was noted for his comedies but he showed in "Lost Weekend" that he knew how to deal with serious matter as well. The ending shot is a classic and will be memorable for anyone seeing the film. Check out "Days of Wine & Roses" as well.