Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3402 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-08-26
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish
• Dubbed in: German
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
"What's it all about, Alfie?" asked the hit Burt Bacharach/Hal David title song, to which the less philosophical answer might be: an amoral young man comically seducing a succession of beautiful women in swinging-sixties London. Michael Caine was the titular anti-hero, here consolidating his new star status from Zulu (1964) and The Ipcress File (1965), his conquests including Shelley Winters, Jane Asher and Shirley Ann Field. Alfie was a huge success, bringing a new frankness about changing sexual attitudes to the screen, in which respect it was almost the male companion to Julie Christie's then shocking, Oscar-winning performance in Darling (1965). It was also a sort-of contemporary Tom Jones, which had swept the Oscars for 1963, however, Alfie was not only better made, but in Michael Caine's guilelessly amoral asides to camera, offered a groundbreaking illustration of a newly self-conscious cinema. It is a technique Caine would reprise as the middle-aged philanderer in Blame It On Rio (1983). With Blow Up also released in 1966, and Ken Russell's Women In Love following in 1969, British film-making was truly in the midst of a sexual revolution. Michael Caine would reunite with director Lewis Gilbert and meet his female match in Educating Rita (1983). --Gary S. Dalkin

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1
Theatrical Trailer

Synopsis
In ALFIE, Michael Caine stars as the title character, a guiltless London lothario whose only pleasure in life seems to be a good time--he has a date with a different woman for each day of the week. After accidentally impregnating his live-in girlfriend, Gilda (Julia Foster), Alfie takes a vacation in the country to think about things--but he can't hide forever. Dodging his fatherly responsibilities, Alfie continues to engage in sexual affairs with a variety of women: millionairess Ruby (Shelley Winters), young runaway Siddie (Millicent Martin), and eventually his friend's wife, Lily (Vivien Merchant). The good times seem endless until misfortune strikes and Alfie is forced to face the product of his reckless debauchery.
Based on the novel of the same name by Bill Naughton, ALFIE touches on a number of controversial topics (polygamy and orphaning, for starters). Director Lewis Gilbert cleverly mixes comedy and tragedy; the end result: a crucial lesson about immorality and the rewards of peace of mind. The film features one of Caine's finest performances as well as an excellent supporting role by Merchant.

Customer Reviews

ALFIE starring Michael Caine
This superb and poignant film directed by Lewis Gilbert shows the 1960`s as if it had been documented in it`s own time capsule. Wonderful performances by all the actors and of course the late Vivien Merchant on top form and the wonderful Alfie Bass playing the part beautifully as the recuperating and unsuspecting husband. British Cinema at it`s best. A definite one to watch for all generations.
Meryl Heasman (songwriter)

Remorseless?
This is not a fluffy film like the Jude Law version, Caine's Alfie is far harsher and abrupt however it makes hims a far more honest and iconic character that truely brings the movie into some sort of social context, and the fashions are just as infamous as the film itself

An Extraordinary Film - Superb Acting - Which Holds Up Today
London was swinging in 1966. Mod fashion and the mini skirt were in vogue, discos featured the sound of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, Sean Connery starred in the latest James Bond 007 flick, drawing in crowds at the cinema, the counter culture was defining itself, the availability of medically prescribed contraceptives helped usher in the Sexual Revolution, even though Women's Lib was still a ways off - and Director Lewis Gilbert's "Alfie" was released. It turned out to be the most talked-about, controversial film of the year, launching Michael Caine as an international film star, and earning five Oscar nominations. Although "Alfie" is very much a period piece, I saw it again recently and was tremendously surprised at how well it holds up, especially in the context of its time.

Michael Caine's Alfie Elkins is the ultimate ladykiller, a sexual predator who approaches women and relationships the way a serial killer homes-in on a victim. He objectifies females, and many of his women are, indeed, victim-like in their neediness and vulnerability. This 30-something misogynistic, working-class, low-class playboy epitomizes narcissism, as he travels from "bird" to "bird," single women and married alike, without responsibility or care, and without malice. And then he moves on to his next conquest. Michael Caine is superb and very believable as the reckless lover with the Cockney accent. His hard-core arrogance and brutal honesty, (with his monologues to the audience), are chilling and, at times, funny - but we're talking about very dark humor. This is a cold and distant man. Not to get too deep into psychology here, but Michael Caine is able to bring the depth of a damaged person to his outwardly cool cad of a character.

The talented Mr. Caine couldn't pull-off this performance alone, however, so credit must be given to his supporting cast. Caine's counterparts are extremely credible, even by today's much more feminist and politically correct standards. These women are not Playboy Bunny types. A few of them are almost plain, and there is no cleavage except for the abundance of Shelly Winters.' Gilda (Julia Foster), is the working class woman, desperately in love with Alfie, who bears him a son out of wedlock. Although he states from the start that the baby is not his problem, he shows more affection to the child than he does to all his women combined. Vivien Merchant is excellent as Lily, the drab, lonely, married woman whom Alfie seduces and impregnates. She winds up having an abortion and, I must say, that the scenes surrounding this traumatic event are shocking in their emotional intensity, even in today's world. Annie, (Jane Asher) is the forlorn hitchhiker Alfie picks up and takes home to be his house maid, among other services. He winds up referring to her as "it." Shelly Winters is Ruby, the vulgar older woman who dumps Alfie for a younger man.

I watched a double feature of this 1966 version of "Alfie" with Michael Caine, and Alfie, 2005 with Jude Law. I was curious to compare the two movies. The only comment I will make here, because I believe it is pertinent, is that although I like Jude Law as an actor, the remake is nowhere near as effective as the original - which I highly recommend.
JANA.