Alfie (1966)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Bill Naughton (play)
Bill Naughton (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 August 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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:

Sex | Courage | Womanizer | Male Female Relationship | Swinging London

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 | Stereo (Turner Classic Movies version)

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Tower of London, Whitechapel, London, England, UK

Company:

Lewis Gilbert

Trivia:

The picture in Ruby's flat is Vladimir Tretchikoff's "Chinese Girl", popularly called "The Green Lady". It was one of the most popular and highest-selling prints of the 1960s.

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: I've never told her that I love her - except at those times when you've *got* to say something for appearance's sake.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Have I Got News for You: (#28.7)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Alfie

An excellent introduction to Michael Caine's work

Having seen most of Michael Caine's work before, it was a pleasant surprise to see one of his first films. You can tell that it is one of his early roles and was not made with a large budget, but, as a good film should portray, it is quite clearly the quality of the script and the acting that outshines the sets and other superfluous aspects.

Caine's character is inherently unlikeable, but, he exudes such a strong charisma that one warms to him gradually. The films choice of supporting actress is also well done as they are controlled by Caine's character, but not upstaged.

The ending, for me is the key point in liking Caine's character, as without spoiling the film, the final scene, set against the Thames at night, is an outstanding piece of writing and direction.

Alfie is an excellent introduction to Michael Caine's work and, for all its flaws, it remains an outstanding film.