OS said on PBS interview that he wanted to show the 'manic depression' of Alexander.....guess that was not all that appealing to movie-goers...LOL!!!!
I would assume from the movie that A did a slow decline into mental illness and alcoholism. I saw a history channel special on him and they implied the same thing. Also the bisexuality. They said that both of his parents were worried about his attraction to boys when he was a teen.