Three Hats for Lisa

Keep the songs and ditch the story and as with KINKY BOOTS, here is an outdated 60s musical that deserves having its dance routines and songs rescued and livened up into a new musical, swinging 60s style. There is room this century to look again at some quite terrific 60s tunes and imagery and see them reach a new audience. THREE HATS FOR LISA is a lame title for what is a full blown original screen musical. A funny idea, and very good songs and amazing orchestrations, this musical from 1965 would have been outdated by 1967 but the foundation and dance/music is all there as a solid big musical should be. Joe Brown and his character are irritating and basically immature and silly, but the girls: Sophie hardy and Una Stubbs are wonderful as is Dave Nelson, who is the 'Frankie Avalon' on the group. Sid James and his music hall patter is OK. It looks to want to be a Tommy Steele musical. I admire this film a lot and wish to see the songs reworked into a better stronger story line and re titles as a stage show called London. or ONE DAY IN London.

A quickie retread of 'Roman Holiday' and 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' with musical numbers resembling those of a Cliff Richard vehicle (complete with the late Una Stubbs). Not exactly good, but rather charming it offers views of London as it looked in 1965 (complete with the Post Office Tower nearing completion) and the unique spectacle - if this is a recommendation - of Sid James singing and dancing.

This film is a dismal attempt to make pop star Joe Brown into a film star.It failed on all counts.You don't expect musicals to have a great story and this film is no exception.However you hope that the music and the dancing will be good.It is difficult to find an adjective to describe just how bad they are.There is not even one musical number that is memorable.The dancing must be amongst the worst ever put on film.The only worthwhile moment is Sid James singing and dancing.He did serve in a concert party in the war.Difficult to realise given his comment character that he was born in South Africa.Seeing London in colour all those years ago is very nostalgic.Finally the process work in the taxi is as amateurish as the rest of the film.

I saw this movie as a child and loved it! I never knew what it was called until I Googled it today, been trying to fond out for 20 years! We've always referred to it as that hat movie! It would be dodgy by today's standards for sure, but I still remember it and I haven't seen it since I was 10. I even remember my mum ringing me up at a friends house to tell me the movie was on. I ran home so I could watch it (this in the days before VCRs). If you want to see a movie in the vein of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Around the World in Eightly Days, Magnificent Men, etc; one that contains good, clean wholesome adventure, I can't recommend this enough.

I saw this movie on TV about 25 years ago and it stuck in my mind as a great feel good movie and a wonderful representation of 60's London. I can remember some of the songs even now, although I doubt if any have ever been released. There's some brilliant street 'dance' scenes set to the songs and the whole thing moves along with great pace and energy. The main players; Joe Brown, Una Stubbs, Sid James & Sophie Hardy are all excellent and work together well. I notice that Eric Rodgers wrote the music, he of 'Carry On' Fame which explains the compelling soundtrack. I 've not seen this movie since, which I assume means it's not that popular and that's a shame.