Alfie

 

Alfie (Michael Caine) 1966

• Director: Lewis Gilbert
• Seen by this director: Before You Go, Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita, Moonraker, The Spy Who Loved Me, Friends, You Only Live Twice
• Based on the play by Bill Naughton
• Cast: Michael Caine, Shelley Winters, Millicent Martin, Julia Foster, Jane Asher, Shirley Anne Field, Vivien Merchant, Eleanor Bron, Denholm Elliot, Murray Melvin
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Michael Caine – Tenet, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, The Dark Knight, Batman Begins, Harry Brown, Flawless, The Prestige, Children of Men, The Weatherman, Last Orders, Get Carter, The Cider House Rules, Little Voice, Mona Lisa, Educating Rita, Sleuth (both versions)
• Shelley Winters – Blume in Love, The Poseidon Adventure, A Patch of Blue, Odds Against Tomorrow
• Julia Foster – Doctor Who, Richard III, Henry VI 1,2,3, The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner
• Jane Asher – Dancing on the Edge, The Masque of the Red Death
• Eleanor Bron – Absolutely Fabulous, Women in Love, Help!
• Denholm Elliot – A Room with a View, Voyage of then Damned
• Murray Melvin – Phantom of the Opera, The Devils, A Taste of Honey
• Why? A Michael Caine classic. 
• Seen: Several times. Now 1 May 2023.      

       Why I should like a film about a smug macho womaniser might seem strange but I’ve liked it every time I’ve seen it.

       Alfie is a cocky Cockney, has one bird after another or at the same time, refers to them as ‘it’, gives breezy advice according to his twisted philosophy to his birds or to anyone who will listen, including us, directly into the camera. He has few scruples but loads of charm.

       A despicable sexist.

       But also a vulnerable, lost and damaged grown-up kid. Played to perfection by Michael Caine in this star-making role. The supporting cast is at least as strong: Foster as the mumsy Gilda, Asher as the heart-broken runaway slavishly helpful Annie, Merchant as the guilt-ridden Lily, Winters as the lusty Ruby (great name) , the only one to put Alfie in his place.

       What’s it all about, indeed? 

4 ½ * of 5