Three Hats for Lisa explained

Three Hats for Lisa
Director:	Sidney Hayers
Producer:	Jack Hanbury
Screenplay:	Leslie Bricusse Talbot Rothwell
Starring:	Joe Brown Sophie Hardy Sid James Una Stubbs Dave Nelson
Music:	Leslie Bricusse (songs) Eric Rogers
Cinematography:	Alan Hume
Editing:	Tristam Cones
Studio:	Seven Hills Productions
Distributor:	Anglo-Amalgamated Film Distributors (UK)
Runtime:	99 minutes
Country:	United Kingdom
Language:	English

Three Hats for Lisa a.k.a. One Day in London^[1] is a 1965 British musical comedy film directed by Sidney Hayers and starring Joe Brown, Sid James, Sophie Hardy, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson.^[2]

Plot

Three young Cockneys take a day off work to meet Lisa Milan, an Italian movie star, at Heathrow airport. She travels with them and their taxi driver in search of some typically British hats. The rule of the game is to steal a hat from its wearer. Lisa wants a bobby's helmet, a businessman's bowler, and the bearskin cap off a palace guard. A musical chase ensues around Swinging Sixties London, evading press and police.

Cast

• Joe Brown – Johnny Howjego
• Sophie Hardy – Lisa Milan
• Una Stubbs – Flora
• Sid James – Sid Marks
• Dave Nelson – Sammy
• Peter Bowles – Pepper
• Seymour Green – Signor Molfino
• Josephine Blake – Miss Penny
• Jeremy Lloyd – Guards Officer
• Michael Brennan – Police Sergeant
• Eric Barker – Station Sergeant
• Howard Douglas – cinema caretaker
• Dickie Owen – policeman
• Norman Mitchell – truck driver
• Arnold Bell – Hilton doorman
• Barrie Gosney – reporter

Musical numbers

All songs written by Leslie Bricusse, except where noted.

• "This is a Special Day" (written by Leslie Bricusse and Robin Beaumont) – performed by Joe Brown
• "The Boy on the Corner of the Street Where I Live" – performed by Una Stubbs, Sandra Hampton and Beth McDonald
• "Something Tells Me (I Shouldn't Do This)" – performed by Joe Brown, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "I'm the King of the Castle" – performed by Joe Brown, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "Bermondsey" – performed by Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "L O N D O N (London Town)" – performed by Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "Three Hats for Lisa" – performed by Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "Two Cockney Kids" – performed by Joe Brown and Una Stubbs
• "Have You Heard About Johnny Howjego?" – performed by Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson and Chorus
• "That's What Makes A Girl A Girl" - performed by Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson
• "I Fell in Love With An Englishman" – performed by Sophie Hardy
• "A Man's World" – performed by Sophie Hardy
• "Covent Garden" – performed by Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sid James, Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson and Chorus
• "One Day in London" – performed by Chorus
• "St. Patrick's Day" (traditional) – performed by the Band of the Irish Guards

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "Gay, modern, musical comedy which includes a novel travelogue of London. [...] A bright, tuneful and happy film. ... The music is pleasing without being memorable."^[3]

Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Neither the composition nor the use of colour is particularly imaginative, which means that visually the film is nothing more than average British fare. But a teenage musical intelligent enough to make ninety-nine minutes pass as swiftly as this does, is welcome on many other counts."^[4]

Variety said: "Modest, breezy musical full of good humor. Slick direction and cheerful, young cast make this an above-average British tuner."^[5]

Leslie Halliwell opined: "Minor musical, silly, but good to look at."^[6]

The Radio Times Guide to Films wrote: "Not even the presence of the great Sidney James can elevate this story of Sophie Hardy's search for three typically English hats. The script, co-written by Carry On regular Talbot Rothwell, raises a few smiles, but the songs signifiy a new low in screen pop music."^[7]

External links

• • Three Hats for Lisa at ReelStreets

Notes and References

1. Web site: Three Hats for Lisa. British Comedy Guide.
2. Web site: Three Hats for Lisa . 10 November 2023 . British Film Institute Collections Search.
3. 15 April 1965. Naked Fury . . 575 . 3002 . 10.
4. 1 January 1965 . Death Goes to School . . 32 . 372 . 79.
5. 26 May 1965 . Eight O'Clock Walk . . 239 . 1 . 14.
6. Book: Halliwell, Leslie . Halliwell's Film Guide . Paladin . 1989 . 0-586-08894-6 . 7th . London . 1023.
7. Book: Radio Times Guide to Films . . 2017 . 9780992936440 . 18th . London . 993.