Ada (1961)
108 mins | Melodrama | 16 August 1961
Director:
Daniel MannWriters:
Arthur Sheekman, William DriskillProducer:
Lawrence WeingartenCinematographer:
Joseph RuttenbergEditors:
Ralph E. Winters, Rita RolandProduction Designers:
George W. Davis, Edward CarfagnoProduction Companies:
Avon Productions, Inc., Chalmar, Inc.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM) acquired screen rights to Wirt Williams’s novel, Ada Dallas, shortly before it was published in Oct 1959, as announced in the 17 Sep 1959 LAT. Elizabeth Taylor was originally sought to star. Several months later, the 12 Feb 1960 DV reported that MGM was pursuing Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum, who had previously co-starred in My Forbidden Past (1951, see entry). Susan Hayward and Dean Martin ultimately won the roles, as stated in a 7 May 1960 LAT item.
Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch wrote an early draft of the script, according to a 29 Jan 1960 DV item, and William Driskill was hired to do a “polish re-write,” as noted in the 15 Dec 1960 DV. The title was changed from Ada Dallas to Ada in deference to Samuel Goldwyn, who had produced a 1937 film titled Stella Dallas, the 22 Dec 1960 DV reported.
A production chart in the 20 Jan 1961 DV indicated that principal photography began on 9 Jan 1961. Filming took place on the MGM studio lot in Culver City, CA, and at the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, CA. An article in the 12 Feb 1961 NYT stated that Ada was the first film to be shot inside the Capitol, after filmmakers had obtained permission from Governor Edmund Brown to shoot while the California Legislature was in recess. A delayed production schedule resulted in the film company shooting on a staggered schedule with the Legislature, which was back in ...
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (MGM) acquired screen rights to Wirt Williams’s novel, Ada Dallas, shortly before it was published in Oct 1959, as announced in the 17 Sep 1959 LAT. Elizabeth Taylor was originally sought to star. Several months later, the 12 Feb 1960 DV reported that MGM was pursuing Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum, who had previously co-starred in My Forbidden Past (1951, see entry). Susan Hayward and Dean Martin ultimately won the roles, as stated in a 7 May 1960 LAT item.
Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch wrote an early draft of the script, according to a 29 Jan 1960 DV item, and William Driskill was hired to do a “polish re-write,” as noted in the 15 Dec 1960 DV. The title was changed from Ada Dallas to Ada in deference to Samuel Goldwyn, who had produced a 1937 film titled Stella Dallas, the 22 Dec 1960 DV reported.
A production chart in the 20 Jan 1961 DV indicated that principal photography began on 9 Jan 1961. Filming took place on the MGM studio lot in Culver City, CA, and at the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, CA. An article in the 12 Feb 1961 NYT stated that Ada was the first film to be shot inside the Capitol, after filmmakers had obtained permission from Governor Edmund Brown to shoot while the California Legislature was in recess. A delayed production schedule resulted in the film company shooting on a staggered schedule with the Legislature, which was back in session by early Feb 1961. The foyer, rotunda, and some mural-lined corridors of the Capitol were used, as were exteriors of the building.
A preview screening took place at the Pasadena Crown Theatre prior to 1 Jun 1961, when a DV item stated that, due to positive viewer response, MGM planned to release the picture in Aug 1961, earlier than anticipated. The film opened to mixed reviews on 16 Aug 1961 in Los Angeles, CA, and the following week in New York City.
According to a 27 Jan 1961 DV brief, actress Sherry O’Neil was set to make her feature film debut in the picture. Bill Walker, Jon Lormer, and Dori Simmons were listed as cast members in the 31 Jan 1961 and 2 Feb 1961 issues of DV.^
While campaigning for the governorship of a southern state, Bo Gillis, a politician given to folksy speeches and guitar playing, falls in love with and marries Ada, a reformed prostitute. The young woman's dubious background alarms both Bo's loyal press agent, Steve Jackson, and his political adviser, Sylvester Marin. Ada proves to be an eager and resourceful campaigner; and once Bo is in office, she tries to convince him that the mild-mannered Marin is a ruthless opportunist, supporting Bo only because it suits his own interests. Even though Marin viciously blackmails the honest lieutenant governor into resigning, Bo refuses to see Marin for what he really is. Ada, anxious to succeed on her own, plays up to Marin and is appointed the new lieutenant governor. A short time later, Bo is badly injured in an automobile explosion--the direct result of his failure to accept all of Marin's suggestions. Bo accuses Ada of siding with Marin, and she decides to prove him wrong. After being sworn in as acting governor because of Bo's incapacitation, she openly defies Marin by supporting a series of reform bills introduced by Bo. Marin, assisted by his corrupt police chief, Colonel Yancey, retaliates by threatening to make public a tape recording that could destroy Ada's reputation; but Bo is released from the hospital in time to defend his wife. Following his speech in the state capitol, the reform legislation is passed, and he and Ada are ...
While campaigning for the governorship of a southern state, Bo Gillis, a politician given to folksy speeches and guitar playing, falls in love with and marries Ada, a reformed prostitute. The young woman's dubious background alarms both Bo's loyal press agent, Steve Jackson, and his political adviser, Sylvester Marin. Ada proves to be an eager and resourceful campaigner; and once Bo is in office, she tries to convince him that the mild-mannered Marin is a ruthless opportunist, supporting Bo only because it suits his own interests. Even though Marin viciously blackmails the honest lieutenant governor into resigning, Bo refuses to see Marin for what he really is. Ada, anxious to succeed on her own, plays up to Marin and is appointed the new lieutenant governor. A short time later, Bo is badly injured in an automobile explosion--the direct result of his failure to accept all of Marin's suggestions. Bo accuses Ada of siding with Marin, and she decides to prove him wrong. After being sworn in as acting governor because of Bo's incapacitation, she openly defies Marin by supporting a series of reform bills introduced by Bo. Marin, assisted by his corrupt police chief, Colonel Yancey, retaliates by threatening to make public a tape recording that could destroy Ada's reputation; but Bo is released from the hospital in time to defend his wife. Following his speech in the state capitol, the reform legislation is passed, and he and Ada are reunited.
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