Movie – Alfie

Alfie (1966) – A Cockney playboy plays the field without remorse until he is finally confronted with some of the consequences of his lifestyle.

Directed by:Lewis Gilbert  Starring: Michael Caine, Shelly Winters, Vivian Merchant, Jane Asher, Denholm Elliot

This movie presents an interesting dilemma.  Alfie Elkins is a fairly nasty piece of work.  He treats women like property, commonly referring to them simply as “it”.  The women stay in his life largely through emotional abuse and manipulation.  And Alfie is utterly unrepentant about it all.   It’s a lifestyle that allows he what he wants.  Women who take care of him, plus whatever he desires “on the side” with his backup girls.  At any moment Alfie may decide to move on.  His life is utterly focused on himself.

For the viewer at least, (I’m not really sure Alfie ever twigs to this) his life is shallow and empty.  It’s only as the story progresses that he begins to realize that there may be a truth there that he doesn’t want to face.  I’m not sure what we are intended to take away from the ending of the movie.  Alfie seems to be more introspective about his life but it could just as easily be yet another of his self justifying excuses.  He maintains he doesn’t ever want a woman’s respect and he ends up with no one’s.

This was Michael Caine’s breakout role.  Several better known actors had turned the role down, including Caine’s roommate, Terrence Stamp, who had played the role on Broadway.  The movie deals very openly with the question of abortion in a manner that was unheard of at the time.  Caine is at his charming but narcissistic best here.  “Alfie” has several other notable things about it.  There are no opening credits, Caine’s character comments on this directly to the audience and continues to break the “fourth wall” throughout.  The closing credits were one of the first places where the faces of the actors were shown with their name.  Even more unusual, most of the primary production staff were given the same treatment.  The closing credits roll over “What’s It All About, Alfie?” which became a big hit in both the U.K. and the U.S. for two different singers.  Curiously, the version in the movie was not the big hit in the States.  They replaced the British version with one done by Cher.  It became the biggest hit for Dionne Warwicke.

Made for $800,000, “Alfie” brought in around $18,000,000, making it the second most popular movie of the year, trailing the James Bond flick “Thunderball”.

Why I Liked It :  Beautifully crafted story with that wonderful feel of 1960’s movie making.  Michael Caine.

Why You’ll Like It : Michael Caine is engaging as the kind of guy you never want to date your daughter.

Would receive a PG rating today.

Rating : *** Worth A Look