Admittedly, I often watch films for their cheesiness or their reputation for being so bad the badness becomes surreal - almost accidentally becoming art in their utter shittiness.
The Morning After (1974) is NOT one of those films. I approached this one wanting something cheesy, but what I got was a devastating, powerful performance from Dick Van Dyke. There is no Ottoman for tripping over, no chimney to sweep, but there is a lot of alcohol to drink and that is what Mr. Van Dyke does in this made for TV film.
Based upon a best-selling novel adapted for the small-screen by the heavy-weight-genius Richard Matheson, this film does not hit one false note. Van Dyke plays a very successful middle-aged public relations man with two kids, a wife and a fine pad in the suburbs. Underneath the sheen of success, Dick is not happy with his career or himself. That fact mingled with a drinking problem that is slowly becoming out of control sets all the wheels in motion for a disaster.
It is gut-wrenching watching these wheels careen out of control. Not only are the effects on the drinker shown in ugly detail, we also see the damage done to family and friends. Those moments filled with tears and screaming are when the film transcends its humble prime-time-TV roots and becomes a drama that is much heavier on the soul, hard to watch and something that could change your life. We ask that TV only entertain us, give us a little hoot and guffaw. When it explodes with depth and truth and makes us maybe question ourselves or the people we love, we are shocked, nearly speechless in its wake. At least I was.
A series of broken promises, failed attempts at therapy and medical advise unheeded eventually leads to a stay in a Sanitarium. We are given a smidgen of hope, because there are only two ways a story like this can end. The drinker seeks help for his problem. As the screen fades to black, we hope the drinker stays sober. The other ending is darker.
He could walk out of the place, head to a bar, call his family between drinks, tell them through tears that he loves them, say goodbye and start drinking. The screen would fade to black with the viewer not knowing what will become of the drinker. The setting sun would cast a terrible gleam off of the drinker's upturned bottle of booze.
Just like it does in this film.
The film ends with the image of Dick stooped at the end of drainage tunnel sucking down booze while a maudlin cover of The Beatles' song, "Yesterday", is crooned on the soundtrack. A very appropriate blanket to lay over his devastation. The song is used at key points throughout the film to drive the message home. Dick himself drunkenly laments the state of music to a bar patron and uses the song as an example of fine tunes from the past. The irony is lost on Dick, because he is drunk but the viewer can muse upon it. Even more ironic is Van Dyke really did struggle with his own problems with alcohol making his performance all the more convincing. All in all, a harrowing viewing experience for me that left me contemplating the empty beer bottle I held in my hand at the end of the film.
A depressing night in front of the boob tube for anyone who tuned in for this one in 1974.
The film has never been released on VHS or DVD, but it is available via some of the fine sites that specialize in hard to find films. Peruse my links!
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