Comments on the latest "Bill W." Biographical Effort

I was one of the people interviewed at length for this latest "Bill W." film, along with T. Willard Hunter and others I knew.

I am sure we thought the film was aiming at a full and accurate A.A. picture. But that was not to be.

Instead, the historical materials were completely cut, A great many of the filmed tributes to Bill Wilson were overdone. The commentators and narrators in the film were certainly not representative of rank and file A.A. active members. And the film therefore joins the long line of biographies and video presentations which are long on Bill Wilson, short on accuracy and facts, and propelled by those who are overwhelmed with their own subjective point of view that A.A. is about not-god-ness and the meandering ethics of Bill. Rather than focusing on the real Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob stories of successfully helping the still suffering alcoholic and addicts who have reached the bottom of the pit and seen the potential release in A.A. itself. Also on those of us who finally grasped the importance of reliance on God and the Christian principles and practices of early A.A., and learning that A.A. is not the product of the man who engaged in spiritualism, LSD, adultery, and all the rest.

Instead, we learned (and biographies should make clear) that the original, highly successful early A.A. of 1935 was, could be, and has been spawned by the simple, dedicated lessons learned by the TWO founders--Bill and Bob. The lessons that make clear, through careful research and accurate reporting, how Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith both got well by turning to God before there were any Big Books or Steps. How they took their basic old school Akron AA recovery program ideas from the Bible; and then focused on and going out to help their suffering brothers and sisters.

Dr. Bob helped over 5000, and Bill dubbed Bob the "Prince of all Twelfth-Steppers." Congratulations to Kevin and Dan for their years long efforts in taking so many interviews and photos. But we still await those movies and biographies, and speakers who can avoid hero worship and focus on the heart of A.A.--which is still trusting God, cleaning house, and working with others.

Dick B.

See Dick B., When Early AAs Were Cured and Why www.dickb.com/titles.shtml