Days of Wine and Roses (Playhouse 90)

Days of Wine and Roses was a television play, originally broadcast on October 2, 1958, as part of the CBS anthology series Playhouse 90. It was written by J.P. Miller and directed by John Frankenheimer. The drama explores the destructive effects of alcoholism on a young couple.

The story centers around Joe Clay, a public relations executive, and Kirsten Arnesen, a secretary he meets. Joe introduces Kirsten to alcohol, initially as a social lubricant, but they both quickly develop severe alcohol dependency. As their addiction deepens, their lives spiral out of control, leading to job loss, financial problems, social isolation, and emotional turmoil. The play depicts the disintegration of their marriage and their desperate attempts to cope with their addiction.

Cliff Robertson played Joe Clay, and Piper Laurie portrayed Kirsten Arnesen. Their performances were widely praised for their raw emotional intensity and realistic portrayal of the devastating effects of alcoholism. Charles Bickford also starred as Kirsten's father.

Days of Wine and Roses was a critical and commercial success. It received several Emmy nominations and won the award for Best Single Program of the Year. The play is considered a landmark in television drama for its unflinching and realistic depiction of alcoholism, a topic rarely addressed so directly on television at the time.

The play's success led to a 1962 film adaptation, also titled Days of Wine and Roses, starring Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, and directed by Blake Edwards. The film used the same storyline but offered a slightly different ending.

The Playhouse 90 production remains a significant contribution to the understanding and depiction of alcoholism in popular culture.