The Lost Weekend (1945, Billy Wilder)

Ray Milland, even younger than in The Big Clock and hardly looking like his X-Ray self – supposedly quit drinking a week ago and is acting outraged that anyone would suspect him of falling off, while he’s busily hiding bottles around the apartment. Looking crazed and desperate from the start, he steals the maid’s money and hits the town, staying at the bar late enough that his brother and wife leave on their planned trip without him. Ray is so happy with his booze – why would anyone deprive him of this? A half hour in, he starts flashbacking, and even in his happy (but still drunken) past he’s being rude to his girl when they first meet at the opera. Meanwhile, present-day Ray is running low on booze and needs more people to rob or precious objects to pawn. The movie’s not completely miserable, Wilder adds levity, but all addiction stories end up the same way. Of course “The Drinking” by Robbie Fulks came to mind – can’t think of any other country songs about getting drunk but there’s…