For the Love of Ada (1972) – Nostalgia Central

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This feature film spin-off from the popular ITV television series, which ran from 1970 to 1971, joins Walter (Wilfred Pickles) and Ada (Irene Handl) Bingley as they are about to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, unaware that Ada’s daughter Ruth (Barbara Mitchell) and her husband Leslie (Jack Smethurst) are planning a surprise party for them.

Walter takes his savings out of the Post Office to buy Ada a locket (containing their photos) – which he loses – and she goes out to have her hair done specially for the occasion.

Walter – who likes his women as God made them – orders her to put her hair back to normal. Ada gets in a huff, and Walter walks out.

When Ada gets news that Walter has been run down by a van and rushed to the hospital, she is agitated, fearful and remorseful.

The feature film version is disappointing, re-treading lines and events that had already appeared in the television series.

Nothing much happens over the course of 88 minutes, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that it was seen as an opportunity for some quick (additional) cash for little effort.

The only really new element is when Leslie visits a barber shop and encounters busty nymphomaniac hairdresser Sandra (Andria Lawrence).

The funniest line comes from Walter when he is asked why he left his native Yorkshire to take up grave digging in London, and he replies, “I like burying Southerners.”

Otherwise, there are a number of predictable mishaps and misunderstandings, and in the end, a cup of tea and a verse or two of Knees Up Mother Brown cures all.

The writers of the original series, Harry Driver and Vince Powell, wrote the screenplay. Ron Grainer’s delightful theme from the series was replaced by What Could Be Nicer? by Gilbert O’Sullivan. It’s not one of his best efforts.

Future New Avengers star Gareth Hunt – in his debut film appearance – has a small part as a policeman. The film also featured the debut of Patsy Kensit (playing a little girl).

Ada Bingley
Irene Handl
Walter Bingley
Wilfred Pickles
Ruth Pollitt
Barbara Mitchell
Leslie Pollitt
Jack Smethurst
Arthur
Arthur English
Brian
Larry Martyn
Mrs Armitage
Hilda Braid
Sandra
Andria Lawrence
Mr Johnson
David Collings
Elsie Lockwood
Nancy Nevinson
Mr Chapman
Donald Bisset
Duggie
Duggie Brown
Alan
Johnny Wade
Vicar
John Boxer
Charlie Nugent
Norman Atkyns
Carol
Veronica Doran
Winnie
Winifred Sabine
Colin
Colin Cunningham
Mrs Skinner
Cecily Hullett
Anthony Pollitt
Nicholas Ram
Bert
Paul Luty
Fanny
Tessa Shaw
Little Girl
Patsy Kensit
Hospital Sister
Joan Scott
Hospital Porter
Arthur White
Policeman
Gareth Hunt