The Lost Weekend Trivia Quiz

Answer: writer

It is brought out early in the movie that Don is a struggling writer who's always on the verge of starting to write a novel. Apparently he suffers from a major writer's block which doesn't help his other problem. In one scene he makes an effort and actually types the title, author and dedication, but that's as far as he gets before thinking about having a drink.

Answer: Wick

Wick Birnam (Phillip Terry) has the unenviable and seldom successful task of always trying to keep Don away from alcohol and covering up when Don is on a bender. Phillip Terry appeared in minor movie roles until his appearance in this movie which gave a boost to his career. He also went on to make many guest appearances in TV shows. He passed away in 1993 at age 83.

Answer: La Traviata

The "Drinking Song" in the production makes Don think about alcohol again. He gets restless and tries to leave the theater knowing he has a bottle in the pocket of his coat, but there is a mix-up at the coat check. He is given a woman's fur coat which forces him to have to wait until the opera is over to exchange coats.

He meets Helen St. James (Jane Wyman) and is quite brusque with her at first, but they gradually warm up to each another.

Answer: packing for a trip

Don and his brother are planning a weekend trip hoping it will get Don's creative juices flowing again. However, Don's hidden bottle is discovered and disposed of by his brother. Don's girlfriend, Helen St. James (Jane Wyman), arrives with opera tickets and tries to persuade the Birnams to take a later train.

It ends up that Don's brother goes with Helen to the opera, leaving Don alone to seek alcohol.

Answer: Nat

Played by actor Howard Da Silva, Nat reluctantly sells drinks to Don, because he knows how drink effects him. At one point Don begs Nat, "Let me have one, Nat. I'm dying. Just one." to which Nat replies, "One's too many and a hundred's not enough." Da Silva had a 40 year movie career appearing in mainly action/adventure films.

He also portrayed Benjamin Franklin in the 1972 musical movie "1776".

Answer: Frank Faylen

Faylen's portrayal of orderly Bim Nolan is creepy as he explains what goes on in the alcoholic ward of the hospital and details of the DTs all with a deadpan monotone, "Delirium is a disease of the night. Good night." Quite a change from the likeable character of Ernie Bishop, the taxi driver, he played the following year in the Christmas-themed movie "It's a Wonderful Life".

He went on to act in many TV series and may be best known for playing the father of the title character in the TV series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959-63).

Answer: whiskey

Don asks for rye whiskey at the bar and at several liquor stores. When one of the liquor store proprietors asks what kind Don wants, he replies, "You know what brand, Mr. Brophy. The cheapest. None of that twelve year old aged in wood; not for me."

Answer: a mouse and a bat

Don thinks he sees a mouse gnawing a hole through the wall of his apartment, as a bat swoops in from the window and attacks the mouse. Blood runs down the wall and Don starts screaming. Just then, Helen arrives and interrupts. Don begs her not to look, but when she turns on the light, nothing is there.

Answer: his girlfriend's coat

Helen owns a striking leopard fur coat. Don has sunk so low that he steals her coat and pawns it. He also unsuccessfully tries to pawn his typewriter on another occasion which could have been his main source of income if he settled down to write. On another occasion he took the money that his brother left to pay the housekeeper.

Answer: yes

With Helen's encouragement, Don starts narrating a story about an alcoholic's difficult weekend, implying that this is the beginning of his novel which he will finally start writing and perhaps get away from alcohol.