Ada (1961)

Political drama about a honest but naive gubernatorial candidate who is manipulated by his corrupt campaign manager and is forced to temporarily cede power to his wife, a woman of integrity despite her shameful past.

Director:

Daniel Mann

Writers:

Arthur Sheekman, William Driskill

Stars:

Susan Hayward, Dean Martin, Wilfrid Hyde-White

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Susan Hayward	...	Ada Gillis
Dean Martin	...	Bo Gillis
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Sylvester Marin
Ralph Meeker	...	Colonel Yancey
Martin Balsam	...	Steve Jackson
Frank Maxwell	...	Ronnie Hallerton
Connie Sawyer	...	Alice Sweet
Ford Rainey	...	Speaker
Charles Watts	...	Al Winslow
Larry Gates	...	Joe Adams
Robert S. Simon	...	Warren Hatfield
Bill Zuckert	...	Harry Davers (as William Zuckert)

Storyline

Bo Gillis is running for Governor. Steve writes the speeches, Sylvester runs the campaign and Bo plays the guitar. Everything is going according to the plan until a hooker named Ada is setup with Bo one night. Even with her past, Bo decides to marry her, much to the astonishment of everyone. After the election, she has a created bio and is very adept at handling people. Bo Gillis, as Governor, finds that he has little influence as Sylvester runs the whole operation. Bo's function is only to sign what is given to him. But while Bo is weak and fails to push his reforms, Ada is strong and adept at doing what is best for Bo and her.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | political corruption | soap opera | based on novel | character name as title | 

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Taglines:

What was the truth about Ada?

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of actresses Margaret Bert and Gloria Pall .

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Goofs

When Ronnie sits down holding the letter of resignation a fly can be seen flying in front of his face and then along the wall behind him.

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Quotes

Ada Gillis: I heard about this marvelous new diet the other day, guarantees it takes 5 pounds a week off you. You don't eat anything but crow.

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Connections

References Escapade (1935)

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Soundtracks

May the Lord Bless You Real Good
Written by Warren Roberts and Wally Fowler

User Reviews

Wide-screen listlessness

Lavish MGM production, set circa 1936 but with clothes and makeup (especially Susan Hayward's) strictly 1961, this cumbersome drama wants to be a mix of political intrigue, marital soap opera, and star power, but it comes up a bit short. In a nameless Southern state (which the screenwriters awkwardly disguise by having characters say "the state" over and over and over), hooker Hayward fascinates and marries gubernatorial candidate Dean Martin, a passive good- guy sort who does the bidding of Wilfrid Hyde-White, the greedy, unethical local boss who siphons state projects to his buddies, shades of 45. She shoves her way into the lieutenant governor's position, then, when Martin's car is blown up (we never find out by whom), becomes acting governor and shakes off the passivity Martin has been practicing. There are minor subplots involving Martin's college buddy Martin Balsam and Ralph Meeker, who's good as a lackey of Hyde-White's who keeps trying to cozy up to the title character, but the emphasis is on Susan's hair, her clothes, and her tough-gal demeanor: When a character says, "Give my regards to the governor," she snarls back, "You're talking to the governor." Dean looks disinterested and hasn't much to play, and Hyde-White employs an odd accent that isn't quite Brit and isn't quite Dixie. We're supposed to cheer as he's brought down and the governor's marriage recovers, but it's a pretty simplistic view of politics, and a key plot point--the opposition has a taped confession of Hayward's prostitute past--is resolved in an unpersuasively offhand way. Enjoyable, and very nicely shot, but you'll forget it the minute it's over.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ada Dallas

Filming Locations:

California State Capitol, Capitol Park, Sacramento, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Avon Productions (II), Chalmar Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1