The Pad and How to Use It
Encyclopedia
The Pad and How to Use It is a 1966 comedy film directed by Brian G. Hutton
. It was based on a one-act play by Peter Shaffer
.
A sensitive man named Bob Handman (Brian Bedford
), who lives alone in his apartment, encounters what he believes to be his ideal woman, Doreen (Julie Sommars
), at a classical music concert. They arrange to meet at a later date at his pad. Because he is so unwordly he asks his best friend Ted (James Farentino
) along to the date as well for moral support. It transpires that she only went to the classical concert because she was given a free ticket by a co-worker. She has no interest in classical music, which is Bob's passion. But she is charmed by Ted who prepares the evening meal and flirts with her outrageously while Bob gets drunk. Bob and Ted fall out and Doreen goes off with Ted. The movie ends with Bob sitting in a darkened room, listening to the aria from Madame Butterfly. He gets up and drags the phonograph needle across the record several times, placing the needle back on the record. As he sits in the dark crying the record skips repeatedly over the scratched aria.
Brian G. Hutton
Brian G. Hutton is a film director whose most notable credit is for the 1970 action classic Kelly's Heroes.-Filmography:*Wild Seed *The Pad and How to Use It *Sol Madrid...
. It was based on a one-act play by Peter Shaffer
Peter Shaffer
Sir Peter Levin Shaffer is an English dramatist and playwright, screenwriter and author of numerous award-winning plays, several of which have been filmed.-Early life:...
.
A sensitive man named Bob Handman (Brian Bedford
Brian Bedford
Brian Bedford is an English actor. He has appeared on the stage and in film, and is known for both acting in and directing Shakespeare.-Life and career:...
), who lives alone in his apartment, encounters what he believes to be his ideal woman, Doreen (Julie Sommars
Julie Sommars
Julie Sommars is an American actress. She played assistant District Attorney Julie March on the TV series, Matlock from 1987 to 1994...
), at a classical music concert. They arrange to meet at a later date at his pad. Because he is so unwordly he asks his best friend Ted (James Farentino
James Farentino
James Farentino is an American actor. He has appeared in almost one hundred roles, among them in The Final Countdown, Jesus of Nazareth, and Dynasty.-Career:...
) along to the date as well for moral support. It transpires that she only went to the classical concert because she was given a free ticket by a co-worker. She has no interest in classical music, which is Bob's passion. But she is charmed by Ted who prepares the evening meal and flirts with her outrageously while Bob gets drunk. Bob and Ted fall out and Doreen goes off with Ted. The movie ends with Bob sitting in a darkened room, listening to the aria from Madame Butterfly. He gets up and drags the phonograph needle across the record several times, placing the needle back on the record. As he sits in the dark crying the record skips repeatedly over the scratched aria.