The Lost Weekend (1945)
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- Passed
- 1h 41min
- Drama, Film-Noir
- Jan 1946 (USA)
- Movie
The desperate life of a chronic alcoholic is followed through a four-day drinking bout.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 4 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 3 nominations.
- See more »
Reviews:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Ray Milland | ... |
Don Birnam
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| Jane Wyman | ... |
Helen St. James
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| Phillip Terry | ... |
Wick Birnam
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| Howard Da Silva | ... |
Nat
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| Doris Dowling | ... |
Gloria
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| Frank Faylen | ... |
'Bim' Nolan
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| Mary Young | ... |
Mrs. Deveridge
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| Anita Sharp-Bolster | ... |
Mrs. Foley
(as Anita Bolster)
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Lilian Fontaine | ... |
Mrs. St. James
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| Frank Orth | ... |
Opera Cloak Room Attendant
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Lewis L. Russell | ... |
Mr. St. James
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Andy Andrews | ... |
Alcoholic (uncredited)
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Gene Ashley | ... |
Male Nurse (uncredited)
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| Walter Baldwin | ... |
Man from Albany (uncredited)
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| Harry Barris | ... |
Pianist at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
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Ian Begg | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| Eddie Borden | ... |
Drunk in Alcoholic Ward (uncredited)
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Jess Lee Brooks | ... |
Hospital Patient (uncredited)
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| Jack Rube Clifford | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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| David Clyde | ... |
Dave (uncredited)
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James Conaty | ... |
Man in Nightclub Washroom (uncredited)
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Willa Pearl Curtis | ... |
Mrs. Wertheim's Assistant (uncredited)
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| John Deauville | ... |
Cloakroom Attendant (uncredited)
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| Helen Dickson | ... |
Mrs. Frink (uncredited)
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Clark Eggleston | ... |
Cloakroom Attendant (uncredited)
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| Franklyn Farnum | ... |
Concert Attendee / Barfly (uncredited)
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John Garris | ... |
Opera Singer (uncredited)
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| Dick Gordon | ... |
Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited)
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| Jayne Hazard | ... |
M.M. - Blonde with Purse (uncredited)
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| Ted Hecht | ... |
Man with Bandaged Ear (uncredited)
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Ernest Hilliard | ... |
Headwaiter (uncredited)
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| Earle Hyman | ... |
Smoking Man (uncredited)
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Jerry James | ... |
Male Nurse (uncredited)
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Stan Johnson | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Jack W. Johnston | ... |
Nightclub Guest (uncredited)
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| Karl 'Karchy' Kosiczky | ... |
Baby (uncredited)
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Eddie Laughton | ... |
Mr. Brophy (uncredited)
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Perc Launders | ... |
Doorman (uncredited)
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Theodora Lynch | ... |
Opera Singer (uncredited)
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| Bertram Marburgh | ... |
Jewish Man (uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
Hardware Man (uncredited)
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| James Millican | ... |
Nurse (uncredited)
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| Frank Mills | ... |
Drunk in Alcoholic Ward (uncredited)
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| Pat Moriarity | ... |
Irishman (uncredited)
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| William Newell | ... |
Liquor Store Proprietor (uncredited)
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William O'Leary | ... |
Irishman (uncredited)
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| Peter Potter | ... |
Shaky and Sweaty Man (uncredited)
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Mark Power | ... |
Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
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| Stanley Price | ... |
Fruit Clerk (uncredited)
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| Craig Reynolds | ... |
George - M.M.'s Escort (uncredited)
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The San Francisco Opera Company | ... |
Opera Company (uncredited)
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| Lester Sharpe | ... |
Jewish Man (uncredited)
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| Lee Shumway | ... |
Guard (uncredited)
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Sophie | ... |
Mrs. Deveridge's Dog (uncredited)
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| Douglas Spencer | ... |
Beetle Man in Drunk Tank (uncredited)
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Al Stewart | ... |
Mattress Man (uncredited)
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Bunny Sunshine | ... |
Little Girl (uncredited)
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| Harry Tenbrook | ... |
Drunk in Alcoholic Ward (uncredited)
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| Fred 'Snowflake' Toones | ... |
Washroom Attendant at Harry & Joe's (uncredited)
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| Emmett Vogan | ... |
Doctor (uncredited)
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| Max Wagner | ... |
Mike (uncredited)
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Milton Wallace | ... |
Pawnbroker with Helen's Coat (uncredited)
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| Gisela Werbisek | ... |
Mrs. Wertheim (uncredited)
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Crane Whitley | ... |
Waiter at Harry & Joe's Bar (uncredited)
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| Ernest Whitman | ... |
Black Man Talking to Himself (uncredited)
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| Isabel Withers | ... |
Woman with Baby Carriage Before Pawn Shop (uncredited)
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| Audrey Young | ... |
Cloak Room Attendant (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Billy Wilder | ||
Written by
| Charles R. Jackson | ... | (from the novel by) |
| Charles Brackett | ... | (screen play) and |
| Billy Wilder | ... | (screen play) |
Produced by
| Charles Brackett | ... | producer |
Music by
| Miklós Rózsa | ... | (as Miklos Rozsa) |
Cinematography by
| John F. Seitz | ... | director of photography |
Editorial Department
| Doane Harrison | ... | editorial supervisor |
| Lee Hall | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Robert Mayo | ... | (uncredited) |
| Alice Thomas | ... | (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Hans Dreier | ||
| A. Earl Hedrick | ... | (as Earl Hedrick) |
Set Decoration by
| Bertram C. Granger | ... | (as Bertram Granger) |
Costume Design by
| Edith Head | ... | (costumes) |
Makeup Department
| Wally Westmore | ... | makeup supervisor |
| Jack Daniels | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Doris Rowland | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
| William Woods | ... | makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Richard Blaydon | ... | production manager (uncredited) |
| Frank Parmenter | ... | assistant production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Douglas Bridges | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Charles C. Coleman | ... | assistant director (uncredited) / second unit director (uncredited) |
| Tex Harris | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Jack Golconda | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Gene Lauritzen | ... | construction coordinator (uncredited) |
| Charles Mason | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Stanley Cooley | ... | sound recordist |
| Joel Moss | ... | sound recordist |
| William Pillar | ... | stage engineer (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Farciot Edouart | ... | process photography |
| Gordon Jennings | ... | special photographic effects |
| Loyal Griggs | ... | process photography assistant (uncredited) |
| Paul K. Lerpae | ... | special photographic effects assistant (uncredited) |
| Harry Perry | ... | process photography assistant (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Mitch Crawley | ... | transparency grip (uncredited) |
| Ray Guy | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Earl Hardaway | ... | mike grip (uncredited) |
| James Hawley | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Walter Newman | ... | transparency grip (uncredited) |
| Otto Pierce | ... | second camera (uncredited) |
| Chet Stafford | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
| Harlow Stengel | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Fred True | ... | grip (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Julio Alonso | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Grace Harris | ... | wardrobe (uncredited) |
| Eugene Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Jeanne Bayless | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Huntington Burdick | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| John Clyman | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Alec Compinsky | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sidney Cutner | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Earl Hatch | ... | musician: drums, percussion (uncredited) |
| Abraham Hochstein | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Samuel Hoffman | ... | musician: theremin (uncredited) |
| Jack Marsh | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Russell Martin | ... | music recordist (uncredited) |
| Peter Meremblum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Lisa Minghetti | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| George Parrish | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Toscha Seidel | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Eudice Shapiro | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Leo Shuken | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
| Irvin Talbot | ... | conductor (uncredited) |
| Henri Temianka | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Raymond Turner | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Philip Wisdom | ... | music mixer (uncredited) |
| Eugene Zador | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Marvin Weldon | ... | script clerk (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Armando Agnini | ... | technical advisor: opera (uncredited) |
| John Clark | ... | publicist (uncredited) |
| Rena Clark | ... | research assistant (uncredited) |
| Helen Hernandez | ... | assistant to producer (uncredited) |
| Sam Ledner | ... | dance supervisor (uncredited) |
| Al Mann | ... | dance director (uncredited) |
| Gladys Percey | ... | research director (uncredited) |
| Douglas Spencer | ... | stand-in: Ray Milland (uncredited) |
| George Thompson | ... | medical advisor (uncredited) |
| Sam Wood | ... | coordinator (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (presents)
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1945) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount Pictures, Inc.) (A Paramount Picture)
- Paramount Film Service (1946) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1946) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Film Service (1946) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Mexico (1946) (Mexico) (theatrical)
- Les Films Paramount (1946) (France) (theatrical)
- Films Paramount (1946) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (1946) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Paramount Italiana (1946) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Paramount Films of Argentina (1946) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1946) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Films (1946) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Paramount Filmes (1947) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Filmaktieselskapet Paramount (1947) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Export Association (MPEA) (1947) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Filmaktieselskabet Paramount (1948) (Denmark) (theatrical)
- MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
- TF1 (1979) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- MCA Home Video (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1990) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- Ciné Cinéfil (1997) (France) (tv) (French subtitles)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (United States) (VHS)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- ClassicLine (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
- Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
- International DVD Group (2010) (Argentina) (DVD) (Cine Clásico Collection)
- Eureka Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
- Eureka Entertainment (2012) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (UPHE) (2012) (United States) (DVD) (3 film set)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2012) (Canada) (DVD) (3 film set)
- Swashbuckler Films (2018) (France) (theatrical) (re-release) (restored version)
- NBC Universal Television Distribution (2018) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- Universal Pictures (2020) (United States) (video) (streaming)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Don Birnam, long-time alcoholic, has been "on the wagon" for ten days and seems to be over the worst; but his craving has just become more insidious. Evading a country weekend planned by his brother Wick and girlfriend Helen, he begins a four-day bender. In flashbacks we see past events, all gone wrong because of the bottle. But this bout looks like being his last...one way or the other.
Written by Rod Crawford |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | How daring can the screen dare to be? No adult man or woman can risk missing the startling frankness of The Lost Weekend! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $1,250,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| 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. See more » |
| Goofs | On Saturday Don goes in search of a pawnshop. At the second pawnshop called "A. Bloom" (see Continuity), a man informs Don that the shop is closed on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). This could not be true, as the modern Hebrew calendar in place since the 12th century CE is designed so that Yom Kippur cannot take place on the Sabbath. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982). See more » |
| Soundtracks | La Traviata See more » |
| 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. See more » |