Ada (MGM 1961, Dean Martin, Susan Hayward)

Published

5 years ago

January 13, 2019

Ada, a high-class prostitute, renounces her life when she marries governor Bo Gillis. Opposed to the marriage is Gillis’s scheming aide and mentor, Sylvester Marin. Marin secretly works to break up the marriage and eventually resorts to trying to kill Gillis. The attempt fails, but leaves Gillis injured and infirmed.

Ada takes over the office of her husband but her efforts are thwarted at every turn by Marin, who now wants to take the power for himself. Gillis returns at a crucial moment to save his wife from scandal and rid the scene of the Marin.

Costumes for Ada were designed by Helen Rose, who also created memorable clothing for such films as Stormy Weather (1943), Father of the Bride (1950), High Society (1956) and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).

production details
USA | MGM | 109 minutes | 1961

Director: Daniel Mann
Producer: Lawrence Weingarten
Original Story: Wirt Williams
Cinematography: Joseph Ruttenberg
Editor: Ralph E. Winters
Music: Wally Fowler, Bronislau Kaper
Script: William Driskill, Arthur Sheekman
Production Designer: Edward C. Carfagno
Art Director: George W. Davis

cast
Susan Hayward as Ada Gillis
Dean Martin as Bo Gillis
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sylvester Marin
Ralph Meeker as Colonel 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
Carol Forman as Newspaper Woman