After The Man With The Golden Arm dared to break the Hollywood taboo about depicting drug use and users, surely other films followed shortly after. Can anyone name some other 50's movies about drugs?
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Very interesting thread and discussion! Thanks to the OP for the question.
Another one I thought of is LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBAR (1977). It doesn't deal specifically with heroin, but cocaine usage certainly plays a role as the story develops. This film version of Judith Rossner's novel is dated, but Diane Keaton's performance holds up for me. However, the novel is far superior to the film, IMHO.
While I have not seen it in several years, I remember Nicholas Ray's BIGGER THAN LIFE (1956) as fascinating for what happens to the main character as a result of an experimental drug prescribed him. Ray's direction here reminds me a bit of Douglas Sirk's work (glossy and Hollywood-ized), but James Mason's performance is the main reason to watch.
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2 films about alcoholism:
The Lost Weekend (1945) - Ray Milland is the drinker
Come Back Little Sheba (1952) - Burt Lancaster is the drinker
Both films are top-notch and HIGHLY recommended.
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