August 13th Log

DAYS OF WINE AND ROSE
1962, Blake Edwards, United States
1st Viewing, DVD

Days of Wine and Roses opens with a beautiful title sequence (heightened by a terrific Academy Award winning song) that sets the tone for the entire film- roses underneath the surface of water. This opening sequence establishes such a feeling, a drowning. Here are two souls deeply in love and happy together, yet they are slowly drowning themselves. Days of Wine and Roses is quite a change of pace for Blake Edwards in terms of emotional tone, yet the impact remains effective and here is a film that still holds true today. It’s examination into a perfect married couples alcoholism may not be a striking today, yet at it’s emotional core, the power of this film remains honest and heartbreaking. The reason for this may be not only because of Edwards skillful and clever direction, but most of all the incredible lead performances from Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick. The film leaves on a heartbreaking final note, as Remick admits to unwillingly give in to her own selfishness, and Lemmon watches her walk away from him and her daughter (with the blinking presence of a nearby Bar sign flashing). I think I prefer a couple Edwards films over this, but I can’t deny the powerful mark it leaves. Truly a film in which the viewer is absorbed as though drowning in it, Days of Wine and Roses is beautifully made, brilliantly performed, and emotionally powerful filmmaking.