For the Love of Ada ** (1972, Irene Handl, Wilfred Pickles, Barbara Mitchell, Jack Smethurst, Arthur English) – Classic Movie Review 10,015

Director Ronnie Baxter’s 1972 senior citizens comedy For the Love of Ada is a warm-hearted but fairly feeble TV spin-off film, which tries to open out an already fairly feeble TV series that entirely motors on the charm of Wilfred Pickles and Irene Handl as Yorkshireman Walter and Londoner Ada Bingley, who have found love and marriage as senior citizens. The story follows a plot about the comic misadventures of the two septuagenarians on their first wedding anniversary as their relatives plan a surprise party.

This antique-style comedy film in search of both enough plot and jokes to fill an hour and a half is perhaps not the best way to remember these much-loved stars, but there is still much pleasure in their engaging performances, with Irene Handl a particular delight. Barbara Mitchell (as Ada’s judgmental daughter Ruth Pollitt), Jack Smethurst (as Leslie Pollitt) and Arthur English give their welcome, skilled familiar Seventies TV turns in support.

Gilbert O’Sullivan writes and sings the theme song, ‘What Could Be Nicer?’

Also in the cast are Larry Martyn, Hilda Braid, Andrea Lawrence, David Collings, Nancy Nevinson, Donald Bisset, Duggie Brown, Rose Power, Johnnie Wade, John Boxer, Arthur White, Norman Atkyns, Gareth Hunt and Rose Hill.

The screenplay by Harry Driver and Vince Powell is based on their TV series, which ran to 27 episodes, 1970-1971, all directed by Ronnie Baxter, and all co-starring Mitchell and Smethurst.

Smethurst recalled that Pickles and Handl disliked each other.

It is the first film of Gareth Hunt.

Martyn and English both played in TV’s Are You Being Served?

For the Love of Ada is directed by Ronnie Baxter, runs 88 minutes, is made by LMG Film Productions, is released by Tigon British, is written by Harry Driver and Vince Powell, based on their TV series, is shot in Eastmancolour by Alan Hume, is produced by Tony Tenser and Peter J Thompson, is scored by Frank Barber and designed by Bill Palmer.

It is shot at EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England. and on a couple of London locations.

It is released by Odeon Entertainment in 2012 in the UK on DVD.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,015

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