''Ada'' is a 1961 American

political drama A political drama can describe a play, film or TV program that has a political component, whether reflecting the author's political opinion, or describing a politician or series of political events. Dramatists who have written political dramas ...

film produced by Avon Productions and distributed by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

. It was directed by Daniel Mann and produced by Lawrence Weingarten, with a screenplay by Arthur Sheekman and William Driskill based on the novel ''Ada Dallas'' by

Wirt Williams Wirt Williams (August 21, 1921 – June 29, 1986) was an American novelist, journalist, and professor of English. Early life and education Born on August 21, 1921 on the campus of the Goodman, Mississippi-based agricultural school headed b ...

. The film stars Susan Hayward,

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

, Wilfrid Hyde-White,

Ralph Meeker Ralph Meeker (born Ralph Rathgeber; November 21, 1920 August 5, 1988) was an American film, stage, and television actor. He first rose to prominence for his roles in the Broadway productions of '' Mister Roberts'' (1948–1951) and '' Picnic' ...

and Martin Balsam.

Plot

Bo Gillis is a guitar-playing man from a Southern state who becomes a

populist Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term develope ...

candidate for governor. He is elected after his opponent's wife is revealed to have a dark secret, a fact exposed by Bo's campaign mastermind Sylvester Marin. Shortly before the election, Bo visits a nightclub, where he meets a prostitute named Ada Dallas. They share a similar upbringing, and Bo feels an immediate bond. They are soon married, which upsets Bo's assistant Steve and Sylvester, who wants the marriage annulled. The Gillises resist and begin life as the state's first couple. Soon the governor finds that he is little more than a stooge, blindly signing documents at Sylvester's behest. His childhood friend Ronnie is dismissed as lieutenant governor for opposing Sylvester. To control Bo, Sylvester requests help from Ada, who demands to be appointed lieutenant governor in return. Bo is furious with Ada for becoming part of the sordid political scene. After he continues to oppose Sylvester's influence, a bomb explodes in his car, severely injuring him. In the hospital, Bo accuses Ada of conspiring to murder him, and she angrily leaves him. Ada takes the oath as acting governor but then begins to defy Sylvester, promoting Bo's ideas for honest government. Her former madam tricks her into offering $10,000 to remain quiet about Ada's past. During a decisive vote at the state capitol, as Bo views from the gallery, Sylvester and his henchman Yancey try to sabotage Ada's plans by revealing her dark secret. Bo delivers an impromptu speech to defend Ava. Sylvester is ruined, and Bo and Ada depart the capitol, reunited.

Cast

* Susan Hayward as Ada Gillis *

as Bo Gillis * Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sylvester Marin *

as Col. Yancey * Martin Balsam as Steve Jackson * Frank Maxwell as Ronnie Hallerton * Connie Sawyer as Alice Sweet * Ford Rainey as Speaker * Charles Watts as Al Winslow * Larry Gates as Joe Adams * Robert S. Simon as Natfield *

Bill Zuckert William Zuckert (born December 18, 1915-died January 23, 1997) was an American actor. Life / Career Born and raised in The Bronx, New York, Zuckert began his career in 1941 in radio and lent his voice to hundreds of dramas over the next two de ...

as Harry Davers * Nesdon Booth as Walter Dow * Emory Parnell as Security Guard (uncredited)

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records, the film lost $2,372,000..

References

External links