Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

The Lost Weekend Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 13, 2012

Billy Wilder's "The Lost Weekend" (1945) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include a short introduction by director Alex Cox; original theatrical trailer; fascinating three-part program made for BBC's Arena, directed by Gisela Grischow and Volker Schlondorff; and 1946 radio adaptation of the film featuring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen. The disc also arrives with a 36-page illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery, and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

Just give me a bottle of rye

Don Birnam (Ray Milland, Dial M for Murder, The Thief) has started drinking because he has stopped writing. His brother, Wick (Phillip Terry, Born to Kill), knows about his problem and has tried to help him, but has failed -- numerous times. His girlfriend, Helen St. James (Jane Wyman, Johnny Belinda, Magnificent Obsession), has also tried to keep him away from the bottle, but has finally come to realize that his desire for alcohol is stronger than his desire for her.

One day, after he refuses to accompany his brother on a weekend trip, Don ends up in his favorite bar and confesses to the bartender (Howard Da Silva, They Live by Night) that he has a great story in his head, one that he could turn into a great book. The story is about a drunk, who meets and falls in love with a beautiful girl from Ohio. The two arrange to meet her parents for lunch, but the drunk bails out and instead spends the rest of the day with a bottle of rye. Don also confesses to the bartender that he does not know yet how the story would end.

This story about the drunk and his girlfriend is a lot like Don’s life story -- a mess. The bartender knows it, but keeps quiet. He has seen a lot of guys like Don and they were all the same -- losers who couldn't stop drinking, slowly destroying themselves and often those around them.

Eventually, after he runs out of money, Don ends up in an alcoholic ward. There a nasty male nurse (Frank Faylen, Terror at Midnight) tells him straight in his face what has become of him. The wake-up call inspires Don to run away and end his misery -- but not before he has one last drink.

This is a rough film. It is completely free of melodrama and about as honest in its assessment of alcoholism as it could have been. The main protagonist’s angry outbursts and aggressive behavior are very convincing, especially during the second half where his life spirals out of control.

Even though there are a few scattered romantic overtones, the film is very dark and very depressing. Certain sequences, such as the one with the mouse trying to crawl out of the hole in the wall, are so intense and disturbing that they easily could have been used in a serious horror thriller. John F. Seitz’s (Double Indemnity, Sullivan's Travels) brilliant shadowy cinematography also adds plenty to the dark and depressing atmosphere.

Considering the socio-cultural norms of the era in which the film was conceived, the ending is rather surprising. There is a ray of hope, but the viewer is left guessing. It just does not feel right to be optimistic about the main protagonist’s future. Can love cure him? Probably not.

Billy Wilder completed The Lost Weekend in 1945. Initially, the film was given only a limited release, but after it generated strong reviews from the press Paramount Pictures began promoting it nationwide. According to Wilder, people with connections to the alcohol industry attempted to stop its release by offering the studio $5 million.

The film’s success was unprecedented. In 1946, it won four Oscar Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Leading Role (Milland). During the same year, the film also won the Grand Prix and Best Actor Award at the first ever Cannes Film Festival.

The Lost Weekend Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Eureka Entertainment.

In certain areas the presentation is even stronger than that of Billy Wilder's Double Indemnity. Close-ups convey terrific depth (see screencaptures #1 and 9), and when there is sufficient light clarity is excellent. Color grading does not disappoint either - the blacks are exceptionally rich and stable while the grays and whites look notably healthy. There are no traces of problematic lab corrections. Grain is prominent and well resolved (see screencaptures #9 and 13), and noise never affects its integrity. A few light scratches and flecks and some extremely light edge shimmer occasionally pop up, but there are no serious damage marks or frame transition issues to report in this review. Lastly, when projected the film has a pleasing fluid look. To sum it all up, this is yet another competent presentation of an important film from Eureka Entertainment that should make its fans very happy. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free PS3 or SA in order to access its content).

The Lost Weekend Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one audio track on this Blu-ray disc: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Eureka Entertainment have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

There are no serious technical issues with the lossless track to report in this review. The dialog is crisp, clean, and easy to follow, while Miklós Rózsa's excellent score (with a prominent role in the film) gets a strong boost. Also, there is actually a decent range of nuanced dynamics that further enhance the unusual atmosphere. For the record, there are no audio distortions of problematic dropouts to re port in this review.

The Lost Weekend Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Introduction - a short introduction to the film by director Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid and Nancy). In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - original theatrical trailer for The Lost Weekend. In English, not subtitled. (3 min, 1080p).

• The Screen Guild Theater - a vintage radio adaptation of The Lost Weekend, starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen. The adaptation was initially broadcast on January 7, 1946. Audio only. In English, not subtitled. (30 min).

• Billy, How Did You Do It? - a fascinating three-part program made for BBC's Arena, directed by Gisela Grischow and Volker Schlondorff (The Tin Drum). Each part features extensive interviews with Billy Wilder conducted by Volker Schlondorff in which the director of The Lost Weekend addresses a wide range of topics, from the production history of the film to post-WW2 German cinema to the work of cinema's greatest masters, etc. In English and German, with printed English subtitles. (184 min, 1080p).

• Booklet - a 36-page illustrated booklet featuring rare archival imagery, and more.

The Lost Weekend Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eureka Entertainment's release of director Billy Wilder's The Lost Weekend is even more impressive than their release of the classic Double Indemnity. Not only does this multiple Oscar winner look great in high-definition, but as a bonus the distributors have also included a truly fascinating three-hour long program in which Volker Schlondorff interviews the legendary director. This is truly a must-see material. If you could play Region-B "locked" discs, consider adding The Lost Weekend to your library. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.