MovieChat Forums > Till the End of Time Discussion > What was wrong w/the soldier in the bar?

What was wrong w/the soldier in the bar?

posted 9 years ago by shanehaynes
1 reply | jump to latest

Why did he have "the shakes"? It seemed like an alcoholic going through withdrawals but......he was in a bar w/a drink in front of him.

Then I thought maybe it was supposed to symbolize PTSD but his actions seemed like they'd come after waking from a bad dream not being wide awake in a bar.

[–] jrhpax 9 years ago

I believe the Idaho veteran was supposed to be having some sort of PTSD episode. The scene moved me.

Remember, the year before, in (the wildly overrated) "The Lost Weekend," Ray Milland's alcoholism episodes were wildly over the top -- nothing like the alcoholics I know.

I guess we should be grateful that Hollywood was even trying to attempt bold subject matter.