THE PAD (AND HOW TO USE IT)

US, 1967, 89 minutes, Colour.
Brian Bedford, Julie Somers, James Farentino.
Directed by Brian G. Hutton.

The Pad is a small comedy, developed from one half of Peter Shaffer's comedy, The Private Ear and The Public Eye. This is The Private Ear. The Public Eye was filmed in 1971. with Mia Farrow, Topol and Michael Jayston as Follow Me, and directed by Carol Reed.

The Pad is a slight comedy about shyness and brashness in the approach to women and would be of interest to adolescents with something of the same problems. Brian Bedford is convincing as the shy bachelor who would like to be game enough to meet women. James Farentino is adequately pushy.

Brian G. Hutton later moved into such loud films as Where Eagles Dare, Kelly's Heroes and X,Y and Zee. A gentle comedy on a theme worth considering.

1. Peter Shaffer's comedy was called The Private Ear (and was half of a double bill along with The Public Eye). Did The Pad make a successful alternative title?

2. The original was a one act play and a simple unpretentious piece of comedy pathos. Did the film retain these qualities?

3. What kind of man was Bob Hammond? Was he typical of many shy bachelors? How much did the film reveal about him as a person? E.g., his dream, music, home, work, friendships, shyness?

4. Why was he so shy?

5. How did he contrast with Ted? Did you like Ted? How typical was he?

6. What was the effect of the crosscutting between Bob at the concert and Ted at Whisky A-Go-Go? and with Lavinia?

7. Why did Bob rely on Ted?

8. Did you like Doreen? How ordinary and typical a girl was she ? did you think at first she was just like Bob? Why? What did you think of her as you learned more about her at the dinner?

9. Why did Ted help with the dinner? Did he really want to win Doreen over from Bob?

10. How much truth was spoken in the conversation between Ted and Doreen? What did the audience learn about them? In the fight between Bob and Ted? Was Bob right about Ted despising him and not knowing what friendship was?

11. Why did Bob make a fool of himself trying to kiss Doreen? Why did the two spend so much time apologising? Why couldn't they communicate?

12. Was there any hope that their friendship could grow, insofar as Bob gave Doreen the firm's phone number (or could Ted win Doreen)?

13. How sorry for Bob did you feel?

14. What was the point of making this film? The comedy was slight and the ending was sombre. Did it give insight into the insecurities and longing for relationships of ordinary people?