Search This Blog

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Ada (1961)

A guitar pickin' Alabama hayseed (Dean Martin) is used by a corrupt political mastermind (Wilfrid Hyde White) as a front for his own political ambitions which include putting Martin in the governor's mansion while he pulls the strings. But when the governor to be marries an ex-prostitute (Susan Hayward), she has her own political ambitions which surprises both men. I've not read the source material ADA DALLAS by Wirt Williams but judging from this film, it seems like one of those juicy and lurid potboilers that are impossible to put down and can be read in a day. The film is also irresistible in that trashy Jacqueline Susann/Harold Robbins "pop another bon-bon in your mouth and turn the page" way. Hayward is surprisingly good here in a role tailor made for her particular brand of star acting but the smoothly urban Dean Martin as an Alabama hick? I guess Andy Griffith wasn't available. Directed by Daniel Mann (who directed Hayward to an Oscar nomination in I'LL CRY TOMORROW). With Martin Balsam, Ralph Meeker, Larry Gates and Ray Teal.

No comments:

Post a Comment