Alfie (1966)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Bill Naughton (play)
Bill Naughton (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 August 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

Michael Caine is Alfie is Wicked !

Plot:

For Alfie, the only real life is sex life; only then can he kid himself he is living. Sex is not used as the working-class boy's way to 'the top'...

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | Promiscuity | Man Woman Relationship | Party | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Alfie Elkins
Shelley Winters	...	Ruby
Millicent Martin	...	Siddie
Julia Foster	...	Gilda
Jane Asher	...	Annie
Shirley Anne Field	...	Carla
Vivien Merchant	...	Lily
Eleanor Bron	...	The Doctor
Denholm Elliott	...	The Abortionist
Alfie Bass	...	Harry Clamacraft
Graham Stark	...	Humphrey
Murray Melvin	...	Nat
Sydney Tafler	...	Frank

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:18A | Canada:G (Quebec) (video rating) (1995) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:PG (re-rating) (1972) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Gasholders, King's Cross Station, King's Cross, London, England, UK

Company:

Lewis Gilbert

Trivia:

Several well-known actors (including Laurence Harvey, James Booth and Anthony Newley) turned down the title role due to the then taboo subject matter of abortion. Despite having played "Alfie" on Broadway, Terence Stamp categorically declined to reprise the role on film, thus giving his good friend and then roommate Michael Caine the breakthrough role of his career.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Alfie is in the doctors office and looks out of the window at the funeral, the window frame is of a different sort to the one we see of the interior.

Quotes:

Alfie: Make a married woman laugh and you're halfway there.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker (1991)

Soundtrack:

Alfie

Deeper than it seems at first glance

This is a seriously good comedy. Michael Caine is delightfully saucy as the title character. He ought to seem a cad, and at times he is, but he takes his lumps too, and takes them in stride. The supporting cast is very effective, with especially excellent performances by Jane Asher, Shelley Winters and Millicent Martin. The camera work is also notable, and London serves as an effective backdrop. Definitely worth a look, and a reminder Michael Caine was as good then as he is now.