Days Of Wine & Roses - Cliff Robertson & Piper Laurie, "Playhouse 90" Original TV Version

Days of Wine and Roses is a gripping drama aired as an episode of the critically acclaimed "Playhouse 90" series on CBS. This 1958 version, a prelude to the well-known 1962 film adaptation, stars two of the most talented actors of their era, Cliff Robertson and Piper Laurie. It offers an intimate and often heart-wrenching examination of the insidious nature of alcohol addiction, its toll on a relationship, and the difficult journey towards recovery.

Cliff Robertson, an actor of immense depth and diversity, delivers a compelling performance as Joe Clay, a young and ambitious public relations executive in the vibrant city of San Francisco. His captivating portrayal takes us through Joe's initial carefree enjoyment of social drinking, his gradual descent into problem drinking, and subsequent battle with alcoholism.

Piper Laurie matches Robertson's portrayal with an equally moving performance as Kirsten Arnesen, a woman of grace and innocence who falls in love with Joe Clay. Laurie skilfully portrays Kirsten's evolution from a teetotaler to a woman reluctantly drawn into the vortex of drinking by her husband's lifestyle and finally spiralling into her own devastating struggle with addiction.

Days of Wine and Roses unfolds as something much more than a love story— it's a vivid portrayal of the struggle they endure both separately and together. JP Miller's compelling script offers an unflinching and profound look at how addiction seeps into every aspect of Joe's and Kirsten's lives, slowly tearing them apart. We watch their once vibrant relationship steadily deteriorate, as alcohol becomes a destructive third entity in their marriage.

The supporting cast, including Charles Bickford, creates a multi-dimensional backdrop to Joe and Kirsten's story, each adding their own threads to the narrative. All the while, the stellar direction from John Frankenheimer heightened the emotional intensity of the story. His use of close-ups, long shots, and transitional sequences paints a stark picture of a couple spiraling downwards, each moment fraught with a sense of impending doom yet laced with a sliver of hope, desperately clinging on.

Days of Wine and Roses is not just a drama, but an exploration of the human condition. Its greatest triumph is its nuanced portrayal of its main characters. Joe's transformation from a casual drinker to an individual grappling with addiction is noted not only in his deteriorated physical appearance but also in his changing demeanor and outlook on life. Kirsten, equally, goes from being a self-assured woman to a wisp of her former self, trapped in the throes of alcoholism and co-dependence.

This version of Days of Wine and Roses is a thought-provoking character study, a powerful exploration of a topical social issue, and an emotional roller coaster that takes viewers on a bittersweet journey with the characters. Robertson and Laurie's masterful performances, Frankenheimer’s adept direction, and Miller’s profound script make this "Playhouse 90" episode a compelling piece of television. The stark black-and-white cinematography enhances the starkness of the narrative and lends an almost documentary-like realism to the drama.

Days of Wine and Roses does not shy away from showing the grim realities of addiction. But it also provides a glimpse into the undying human spirit and the drive for redemption and recovery. It's a timeless, haunting tale that still resonates today in the context of addiction and its aftermath.

Overall, this TV version of Days of Wine and Roses is an engrossing drama marked by phenomenal performances from Robertson and Laurie. It's an empathetic, brutal, yet ultimately inspiring exploration of addiction, love, and the resilience of the human spirit. Despite its age, the plot's relevance and the power of its execution make it a must-watch for fans of classic television and anyone seeking potent, unflinchingly honest storytelling.