Please forgive me for not having read the book Postcards from the Edge.
I saw the movie without commercials or censorship -- on one of the premium channels. Shirley MacLaine's character is seen drinking frequently and getting into trouble for DUI. She even causes a car accident.
So does Shirley's character's drinking problem come from Carrie Fisher's book, and does that mean Debbie Reynolds drank too much?
The book was loosely based on their relationship, Debbie wasn't an alcoholic like MacLaine's character. She's said multiple times over the years she enjoyed wine with dinner, was never a big drinker. Nor did she ever get into drugs like Eddie did, she liked to "stay in control."
shareMay I assume Debbie never was arrested for DUI or for any other alcohol - related offense? Carrie wrote the screenplay for Postcards from the Edge. Maybe it was cruel of her to concoct the scenes in which Mom, played by Shirley MacLaine, deals with the consequences of driving drunk and getting arrested. Why did Carrie need that plot point? Screenwriters use the term "plot point."
In recent years, few people have made the connection between Shirley MacLaine's character's behavior and Debbie's behavior. Google is stronger than cinematic fiction. But in 1990, when Postcards from the Edge was playing in cinemas, moviegoers couldn't google. So maybe it was cruel of Carrie Fisher to lead them to believe her actual mother had a criminal record and she might have killed an innocent person or persons on a Beverly Hills street.
When they did ask about any connection, Fisher responded with "I wrote about a mother actress and a daughter actress. I'm not shocked that people think it's about me and my mother. It's easier for them to think I have no imagination for language, just a tape recorder with endless batteries."
shareDebbie was never arrested, nor got entangled with anything illegal. She was as she liked to call herself a "square." Often mocked but it was how she lived her life.
shareI think Carrie based it on silver screen Hollywood moms in general, not just Debbie.
However, one thing that stuck out for me in "Bright Lights" was Debbie singing "I'm Still Here," which Shirley did in "Postcards."
Harvey Fierstein offers this remembrance of partying with Debbie after hours to the point where she ended up in the hospital and missed her show amid reports of a heart attack. He recalls calling Carrie to tell her not to worry, it was just a hangover. http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/harvey-fierstein-remembers-debbie-reynolds.html
So she definitely was a consumer, no clue to what extent.