Produced, directed and cowritten by Hervé Hachuel, it starred Scott Paulin, Irene Miracle, Gregg Henry, Kate Vernon and Tony Curtis.

Heavy-drinking Philip Banter, an American working in Madrid, Spain, for his father-in-law's multinational corporation, finds himself awakening from blackouts.

With Charles' support, Elizabeth seeks to have the unstable Philip receive help from psychiatrist Dr. Monasterrio, but the doctor cannot have anyone committed to his psychiatric facility without their approval or indication they are a danger to themselves or others.

At Elizabeth's request, Monasterrio attends a party at the Banters' home that night, in order to speak with Philip informally and try to convince him to check himself in voluntarily.

In a latter-day essay, writer Irman Khan says the film's change of locale from New York City to "the glacial calm of Madrid ... defanged and rendered limp" the novel's story.

Moreover, "Its updating of the story's original timeframe, from the '40's to an '80s yuppie world of power suits and starched preppy shirts, inhibits any sympathy the viewer might feel for these characters mired in their woes."