The Lost Weekend [Masters of Cinema] (Blu-ray) [1945]

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SYNOPSIS: Directed by Billy Wilder (Double Indemnity, Sunset Boulevard, Some Like It Hot), this gut-wrenching adaptation of Charles Jackson's The Lost Weekend horrified its studio, was rejected by test audiences, and was lobbied by temperance groups, yet went on to huge success and became the awards sensation of its year. Ray Milland stars as Don Birnam, a New York author struggling with years of alcoholism and writer's block. Trying to keep him on the path to rehabilitation are his straight-laced brother Wick (Philip Terry) and devoted long-time girlfriend Helen (Jane Wyman). When Don absconds from a country excursion, he embarks on a four-day binge, spiralling towards rock bottom. Winner of the Grand Prix at the first ever Cannes Film Festival, as well as Os for Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Screenplay, this brutal noir provided one of cinema's first in-depth studies of addiction. Crackling with rapier dialogue, vivid performances, and Wilder's superlative direction, The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present The Lost Weekend for the first time anywhere in the world on Blu-ray. Released in the UK in a standard edition & limited edition steelbook. SPECIAL BLU-RAY FEATURES: New high-definition master, officially licensed from Universal Pictures Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired Exclusive new video introduction by director Alex Cox The three-part 1992 BBC Arena programme Billy, How Did You Do It? directed by Gisela Grischow and Volker Schlöndorff, featuring Schlöndorff in conversation with Billy Wilder The 1946 Screen Guild Theater radio adaptation of The Lost Weekend starring Ray Milland, Jane Wyman, and Frankie Faylen The original theatrical trailer 36-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new essay on the film by critic and filmmaker David Cairns; a reproduction of the famous hallucination sequence in three forms: an excerpt from Charles R. Jackson s novel, an excerpt from Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder s screenplay, and a presentation of actual frames from the corresponding scene in the film; a vintage public service advertisement by Seagram s about The Lost Weekend and the broader social dilemma of alcoholism; and rare archival imagery REVIEWS: "A ifyingly grim and grimy account... Gripping." - Tom Milne, Time Out "...ranks with the best and most disturbing character studies ever put on the screen. The Lost Weekend is truly a chef d'oeuvre of motion-picture art." - The New York Times "Painfully sincere and uncompromising look at alcoholism ... with a superb central performance. " - Kim Newman, Empire