Voice in the Mirror

1958
Approved
1h 43m

ÉVALUATION IMDb

MA NOTE

Richard Egan and Julie London in Voice in the Mirror (1958)

Ajouter une intrigue dans votre langueJim Burton has become a chronic alcoholic since the death of his young daughter, and is cared for by his hard-working wife. A doctor's warning that Jim could become mentally ill strikes enou... Tout lireJim Burton has become a chronic alcoholic since the death of his young daughter, and is cared for by his hard-working wife. A doctor's warning that Jim could become mentally ill strikes enough fear into him that he really wants to cure himself, but he can't. One night, he meets f... Tout lireJim Burton has become a chronic alcoholic since the death of his young daughter, and is cared for by his hard-working wife. A doctor's warning that Jim could become mentally ill strikes enough fear into him that he really wants to cure himself, but he can't. One night, he meets fellow alcoholic William Tobin and discovers that he helps himself by trying to help Tobin.... Tout lire

Voir l’information sur la production à IMDbPro

ÉVALUATION IMDb

6,7/10

197

MA NOTE

Voir l’information sur la production à IMDbPro

Photos9

+ 3

Commentaires des utilisateurs11

6,7197

Avis en vedette

10clanciai

Straight from the gutter

This is realism at its best. Billy Wilder's "The Lost Weekend" with Ray Milland starring in practically the same story was also quite excellent and rewarded with an Oscar for its staggering sincerity, but this is more convincing. There are no stars here,. unless Julie London can be reckoned as such, who makes a performance that lights up the whole film in all its hopeless gloom of darkness - most scenes are nocturnal - but all the other characters are like picked up directly from the gutter and drunk tank and perform the better for not being stars. The story takes quite a few very upsetting turns, but also takes some surprising turns for the better, hope is always there, although it looks thoroughly hopeless from the beginning and for some while, until Jim meets a fellow drunk who is worse off than himself, and they find something together that somehow seems to work some miracle. Additional weight and impressing quality is added to the film by Henry Mancini's music, which always works miracles to any film. To cut short all the praises and qualities, this is a film that should be seen by everyone, for learning something about real life in the gutter.

10serafindeocampo-74352

Unjustly obscure

It's rather curious that this film is not as famous as it deserves to be. It is a very well made film with outstanding performances by Richard Egan, Julie London, Arthur O'Connell and Walter Matthau. The Henry Mancini score is also noteworthy. I also appreciated that the main focus of the film was finding a solution to the problem of alcoholism. Richard Egan gives one of the best perfomances of his career. I just read in the AFI page that Universal International reissued the film in 1958 with the hopes that Mr. Egan would get an Oscar nonimation for his role. He certainly deserved one for this.

9rollo_tomaso

An overlooked slice-of-life movie about alcoholism

Richard Egan and Julie London are so realistic together, and Arthur O'Connell merely devastating in this excellent depiction of the struggles of an American alcoholic. The pressures are realistically depicted, and the struggles vividly felt. The excellent performances never hit a false note. I give it 9 out of 10.

7planktonrules

Occasionally overacted but overall a very nice look at AA....though they NEVER call it AA.

Music a bit heavy handed.

Occasionally the music and the acting can be a bit over the top in "Voice in the Mirror". However, despite this, it's a nice look at alcoholism and Alcoholics Anonymous. Oddly, however, the terms 'AA' and 'Alcoholics Anonymous' are never mentioned and the film is a mixture of both truth and fiction. At the end, they even recite the Serenity Prayer....but again, not mention of AA itself.

Jim (Richard Egan) crawled into the bottle after the death of his daughter. His life is out of control and despite how low he's fallen, his wife (Julie London) has somehow stuck with him. But now his heath is failing and something must happen or he'll soon be dead. That is when he stumbles upon the concepts that made AA work for many addicts.

I still am not sure why the studio didn't just make a film about Bill W or the other co-founder of AA...and why they never call Jim's program AA. It's odd. But it also is a very effective film that honestly shows what life as an addict was like in the 'good old days'. Well made and well worth seeing.

6ulicknormanowen

AA

Coming after "lost weekend" and "I'll Cry tomorrow" in which Ray Milland and Susan Hayward faced the demons of alcoholism , "voice in the mirror suffered accordingly ;its screenplay is loose ,lacks focus .

But it's saved by Richard Egan whose performance is in the same league as the above- mentioned actors ;his voice in the mirror tells him he won't get away alone.So he draws closer to people who shares the same problem ,(including an unexpected Troy Donahue) ;alone ,you're helpless, in a group like you can talk to people who will comprehend you.There's also the turn to God ,in real life ,the principal was a religious man .

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Histoire

Modifier

Le saviez-vous

Modifier

Anecdotes
At about the 36-to-38-minute mark Harry Dean Stanton has a bit part as a hysterical mental patient.

Citations
Dr. Leon Karnes: Why does Ellen keep bringing you around here? What does she expect a few cc's of vitamins to do?
Jim Burton: Ellen's a girl that lives by faith.
Dr. Leon Karnes: And you?
[he scoffs]
Jim Burton: I miss your bedside manner, Leon.
Dr. Leon Karnes: Well make a payment on the bill and I'll see what I can do.
Dr. Leon Karnes: I didn't mean that. Boy, what you do to me. You know I'm really a very nice fella. You should hear me on the phone at three o'clock in the morning soothing some poor old hypochondriac; gentle, kindly, understanding. But you?
Dr. Leon Karnes: The Case history of the two Jim Burtons. Hey, do you know you've been coming to see me for over six years now? Your first visit was with Ellen. The two of you were wondering if she might be pregnant.
[-?-]
Dr. Leon Karnes: was quite sure. After that the usual things; a little sinus trouble, head colds, in-grown toenail. Then a few years ago, the first Jim Burton went away. And the other one - brother; hospitals, sanitariums, rest homes, all down the drain. Chronic Alcoholism.
Dr. Leon Karnes: Prognosis? There's an old Spanish proverb; the only cure for the drunkard is death.
Jim Burton: Those Spaniards have a way with words.
Dr. Leon Karnes: The proverb is true. Alright, why even bother trying to figure you out?
Jim Burton: And do you still have that other chart? Isn't there a page or two somewhere on someone called Laura Burton? Just a few modest entries. Born, lived and died, all in three years - with a fancy Latin phrase explaining why.
Dr. Leon Karnes: Ellen lost a child too but she didn't become a drunk.
Jim Burton: She didn't have to; I gave her a new child to look after. A little boy. Me.
Dr. Leon Karnes: If it hadn't been Laura's death, you'd have found another excuse.
Jim Burton: Oh, can the lecture.
Dr. Leon Karnes: One day, you would have broken a shoelace and that would have been your excuse. You were drinking before the child died.
Jim Burton: I earned my own living. I didn't steal from my wife's purse and could have stopped drinking any time I wanted to.

Générique farfelu
FOREWORD: This is the true account of an overwhelming terror and one man's struggle to survive it. Real names cannot be used for reasons that will become obvious.