Directed by Blake Edwards and adapted from a Playhouse 90 television teleplay, Days Of Wine And Roses centers around Joe Clay (Jack Lemmon), a public relations man who takes social drinking with his business clients a bit too far. Through work, Joe meets Kirsten (Lee Remick), a secretary who is ultimately lured to drink when Joe introduces her to the infamous Brandy Alexander. The two get married, have a child, and quickly let liquor seize control of their lives. After many false starts, Joe eventually dries out with the help of an AA sponsor (Jack Klugman), but Kirsten cant elude the strong grip of alcohol. Its been stated that both of the lead actors became completely consumed in their drunken sequences, and it shows. You almost want to cry for both of these characters, watching how far theyre willing to demean themselves to get a drink. Its their daughters first birthday and Kirsten and Joe are the ones who do all the celebrating; Joe eventually moseying into work hungover. Kirsten ends up turning into a bored housewife, evocative of the 1960s, with a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. Days Of Wine And Roses is a painfully authentic movie about two people who become utterly lost to each other; wrapped in the sweet embrace of alcohol.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
