The Pad and How to Use It (1966)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Brian G. Hutton

Writers:

Thomas C. Ryan (writer)
Peter Shaffer (play)

Release Date:

23 September 1966 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A man, who lives alone in his apartment, finds his ideal woman while going to the symphony. He dates her and brings her to his pad...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Awards:

Won Golden Globe.

Cast

Brian Bedford	...	Bob Handman
Julie Sommars	...	Doreen Marshall
James Farentino	...	Ted
Edy Williams	...	Lavinia
Nick Navarro	...	Beatnik
Pearl Shear	...	Fat Woman
Barbara London	...	Waitress
Barbara Reid	...	Girl on the Phone
Roger Bacon	...	Larry
Don Conreaux	...	Ralph

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Whisky a Go Go - 8901 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

An extremely lonesome man's luck in love continues to be bad.

This is one of the best dramatic movies that I have ever seen.I cried! It's so unfortunate that it is never shown in the U.S.A. anymore and oddly isn't available to purchase either. Anyway, the main characters are all in their mid-30s and fairly mature people. The lonesome guy's best friend has nothing but good luck with his love-life. He's charming, funny, and good-looking. So, this movie shows the stark contrast of those who are lucky in love and those who can't buy a break with their love-life. I could definitely relate to the unhappy guy because I was in that same situation. My best friend was also very popular with the ladies, and was I jealous! Brian Bedford, playing the unlucky guy, completely submerges himself into a semi-fantasy world where he often imagines himself to be a great orchestra conductor. He blasts his classical music in order to drown out the rest of the real world so as not to have to face his utter loneliness. When his best friend tries to do him a favor and introduces him to a woman, he is happily excited and naively expects to meet his perfect match. James Farentino is wonderful as the lucky guy, and Brian Bedford is great as his frustrated friend. I saw this movie about 50 years ago on regular TV and have never seen it since, but the memory of it is indelibly burnt into my brain forever.