THE LEGEND OF PAULIE GREEN

Series: Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L series

Year Published: 1976

Description: Dating to 1976, "The Legend of Paulie Green" is one of a series of films produced in the "Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L" series. The film follows Paulie, a college student whose increasing stress and isolation lead him to alcoholism. After a severe breakdown and hospitalization, he enters recovery under the guidance of counselor Tom and trainee Ken. Meanwhile, his friends Amy and Mike work at an alcohol hotline, where they help a girl named Karen cope with her mother’s drinking. As Paulie gradually rebuilds his life—taking a groundskeeping job and learning to trust others again—he reconnects with Amy and Mike, who support his journey toward sobriety. Through flashbacks and group sessions, Paulie recognizes that his drinking was an escape from failure and loneliness. The story closes with him returning to volunteer at the hotline, symbolizing hope, growth, and the ongoing process of recovery. The film features Richard Sanders who played Lester "Les" Nessman Jr. on WKRP in Cincinnati. 0:00 – "Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L" series opener and main titles. 1:52 – Paulie parts from friends after a ride, signaling his polite, uncertain demeanor. 2:09 – Amy and Mike unexpectedly meet Paulie, who seems changed but cordial; he reveals he’s stopped drinking and works at a rehabilitation center. 3:26 – After polite goodbyes, Amy and Mike note Paulie looks better but feel unsure how to talk to him. 3:56 – A new scene introduces Karen and her alcoholic mother, whose tension and denial create emotional distance in their home. 5:20 – Karen’s father returns, tries to keep peace, and suggests her mother go back to work, revealing deep family strain. 6:43 – Mike, now volunteering at an alcohol hotline, receives a desperate call from Karen about her mother’s drinking; he offers contacts for professional help. 7:44 – Paulie meets with counselor Tom and trainee Ken to discuss his recovery and difficult past with alcohol. 8:42 – Paulie recounts how stress at school and work led to drinking alone, showing the beginnings of dependence. 10:25 – Flashback to his college life: he’s overworked, careless, and reluctantly assigned to volunteer at the alcohol hotline. 11:56 – Paulie calls Amy to confirm his new advisor role at the hotline, unaware this will begin his path to self-awareness. 12:54 – Later, Paulie admits to drinking alone and losing control, as Tom helps him distinguish use from abuse. 14:00 – His counseling continues; he reflects that he drank to escape problems he couldn’t solve. 15:20 – Back at the hotline, Mike and Amy help Karen again, explaining Alateen and Al-Anon as resources for families of alcoholics. 16:37 – Karen finds hope, and Mike earns praise for his growth as a volunteer. 17:10 – Ken updates them on Paulie’s progress—he’s learning to trust people again and has a groundskeeping job on campus. 18:07 – Amy and Mike visit Paulie at work; he confides his past stress, shame, and the role alcohol played in his collapse. 19:28 – Paulie admits he drank to cope with failure, losing his job and trust in others, and now realizes he was an alcoholic. 20:09 – Amy and Mike’s compassion encourages Paulie to reconnect, though he hesitates to rejoin the hotline. 21:07 – Karen calls back to thank Mike; she’s joined Alateen and is learning how to cope with her mother’s drinking. 22:04 – Mike and Amy discuss responsibility and resisting peer pressure around drinking. 22:44 – Paulie returns to the hotline, welcomed warmly by friends who celebrate his recovery. 23:18 – He recalls the night of his breakdown and near-fatal collapse from alcohol poisoning. 25:42 – Paulie’s hospitalization becomes the turning point where he decides real change is necessary. 26:27 – In a recovery group, he learns to redefine what being an alcoholic means and begins healing with shared understanding. 27:19 – Paulie credits Tom and the support group for saving his life and commits to lifelong care and sobriety.

Online Copy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVeaibbjByQ

Metadata Source:YouTube