Alfie (1966)

☆ ☆ ☆

Alfie (1966) – L. Gilbert

I’m working my way through a list of the best 100 British films of the 20^th century and this was next in line.  Featuring one of Sir Michael Caine’s early star turns in full on Cockney mode, the film is horribly dated. iMDB describes the plot pithily as follows: “An unrepentant ladies' man gradually begins to understand the consequences of his lifestyle.” Throughout the film, Caine breaks the fourth wall to speak directly to the camera about his exploits, which involve affairs with married women behind their husbands’ backs, getting girls pregnant and leaving them, and generally behaving like a misogynist cad.  He isn’t a sympathetic character although some of his adventures (and spiels) must have been designed for comedy (perhaps his over-reaction to finding spots on his lungs at the doctor’s office). Fifty years later, it is hard to tell whether anyone in the audience was expected to identify with Alfie’s behaviour – teen boys wanting to imagine a love ‘em and leave ‘em lifestyle, perhaps – but more mature audience members would certainly see the shine come off as Alfie is psychologically affected by both the loss of his toddler son (when the young mum he impregnated eventually marries someone more responsible) and a depressing abortion (that he encouraged in a married woman he seduced). We leave him being rejected by Shelley Winters in favour of a younger stud.  In the end, the film lands halfway between kitchen-sink realism and farce, tantalising the audience with laddish exploits while still moralising heavily about their consequences.  Cher sings the title song over the closing credits.