Displaying items by tag: Sidney Hayers

THREE HATS FOR LISA

UK, 1965, 99 minutes, Colour.

Joe Brown, Sophie Hardy, Sidney James, Una Stubbs, Dave Nelson, Peter Bowles, Eric Barker, Seymour Green, Josephine Blake, Jeremy Lloyd.

Directed by Sidney Hayers.

This is very much a film of its times, the colourful swinging London of the mid-1960s. But now it looks very, very dated.

However, one reason for looking at it now is that it provides something of a treat for Sid James fans. Once again, he gives a typical performance as a cab driver. However, this is a musical, quite a lot of songs and dances, and here is Sid James, both singing and dancing! He is certainly worth a look, more versatile than we might imagine.

The star of the film is Joe Brown, popular singer of the period – but, not exactly an appealing screen character, rather more “in your face” than we might have liked. His singing voice resembles that of the popular Cliff Richard, and this film is something in the vein of the Cliff Richard musicals like Summer Holiday.

Three Londoners spend the day taking an Italian film star around London, she wanting to steal three hats to complete her collection! She is played by French actress, Sophie Hardy. The other two on the day out are played by Una Stubbs and Dave Nelson.

But, there is Peter Bowles, a decade before To the Manner Born, very much overacting. On the other hand, there is a good cameo by comedian, Eric Barker, at the police station. Actor and writer, Jeremy Lloyd, is also there.

The surprise is that the music is by Leslie Bricusse, Oliver, Stop the world… There is a lot of exuberance but not so much more. And, he co-wrote the screenplay with Talbot Rothwell who, at this time, was writing all the Carry on films. It is not his greatest screenplay either.

There is quite a lot of song and dance, round different venues in London, lots of workers, passers-by, all joining in. Fans of West Side Story may notice the resemblance of many of the dance routines, especially with the male dancers, to the choreography of the classic musical.

Spoiler: Lisa does eventually get her three hats!