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By
NICK ZEGARAC
"The Lost Weekend" is perhaps the most socially conscious Academy Award winner in film history. A stark and frightening glimpse into the heart and mind of an alcoholic, the story follows Don Birnam (Ray Milland) from one alcoholic binge to the next as he desperately tries to overcome his dependency and win back the heart of his estranged girlfriend, Helen St. James (Jane Wyman).
There are moments in this film that will haunt you for weeks afterward, including Don's temporary institutionalization in a facility in which his drying out hallucinations get the better of him. Philip Terry costars as Wick Birnam. He's compassionate to a point, but has just about given up on rehabilitating his brother.
Universal has given us a very fine looking print of this unusual Oscar winning classic. The B&W picture is quite clean with deep blacks and solid whites. Contrast and gray scale are very nice looking. There's minimal film grain present and an absence of digital anomalies for a picture quality that will surely not disappoint. The audio is mono but appears to have been cleaned up as well, sounding very natural for its vintage. There are no extras. |
