Alfie (1966)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lucas M

  
  Terrific!!!

• Tim S

  
  Sorely dated not only in look but in subject matter, this film takes place in the swinging 60's of London, and a lot of the attitudes of that time are front and center. Most of the time, you think Alfie is a bastard by the way he treats his "birds," but eventually, you… More
  Sorely dated not only in look but in subject matter, this film takes place in the swinging 60's of London, and a lot of the attitudes of that time are front and center. Most of the time, you think Alfie is a bastard by the way he treats his "birds," but eventually, you start to feel for him by the end. Well-shot and edited, this is real classic, but I'm sure it will turn newer viewers off.

• Spencer S

  
  The juvenile charisma of a thirty-something Michael Caine onscreen with all manner of woman started off as a candid comedic romp about sex in the swinging sixties. It becomes apparently clear early on that this is far from the case. A deep and distressing view of male promiscuity… More
  The juvenile charisma of a thirty-something Michael Caine onscreen with all manner of woman started off as a candid comedic romp about sex in the swinging sixties. It becomes apparently clear early on that this is far from the case. A deep and distressing view of male promiscuity doesn't cover the parade of veneral disease that the title character trots out for his own soliloquied amusement. No, this was simply a character study of a very vapid and self -centered individual who comes to terms with his own centeredness through tragic sets of circumstances, including an affair with his roommate's wife, a relationship with a hitchhiker, the loss of a relationship with his only son, Malcolm, and a treasonous dupe by his latest conquest, Ruby. (Winters) Calamity abounds, but really, it was just a sad tirade of an aging lout.

• Ken S

  
  Michael Caine is great as the precursor to Ferris Bueller, but this movie is no Ferris Bueller. It's much darker, more akin to Lindsay Anderson than John Hughes.

• AJ V

  
  I saw this after seeing the recent remake of it thinking that it would be much better, but I was disappointed. Even with Caine's great performance, the story lacks any feeling, it doesn't make the audience care about or feel anything. I do not care for Alfie at all, but… More
  I saw this after seeing the recent remake of it thinking that it would be much better, but I was disappointed. Even with Caine's great performance, the story lacks any feeling, it doesn't make the audience care about or feel anything. I do not care for Alfie at all, but this movie was slightly better than the remake, so I gave it a higher rating.

• Ross C

  
  What's it all about, Alfie? Original for its time, with the protagonist addressing the camera, but the very dated attitudes don't exactly paint a pretty portrait of '60s London.

• Cassandra M

  
  only realised last night that I had not seen Alfie all the way through, but I'm glad I did now. This was a real eye-opener, not only from a historical point of view but also proof once again that Michael Caine is a British treasure, and one of the screen greatest actors. I read… More
  only realised last night that I had not seen Alfie all the way through, but I'm glad I did now. This was a real eye-opener, not only from a historical point of view but also proof once again that Michael Caine is a British treasure, and one of the screen greatest actors. I read the script for the original play a few years ago and found that I totally disliked the character of Alfie. But seeing Caine playing the role, and although I didn't like his whole attitude to women (calling them "it"), you cannot but like him. Caine plays the cheeky chappy so well that it's no wonder women would fall for his charm. But the true taste of the pudding is the scene after the abortion, when Alfie enters the kitchen. A truly emotional sequence that shows the true power of Caine's acting ability. It was also an interesting study of life in 60s London. Not the swinging, hippy sixties of Carnaby Street that is so often shown in most 60s London films. And as a piece of historical social study, you can't get better than this.

• Anthony L

  
  While Caine's performance is famously brilliant, it's often Gilbert's greatness that is unsung. Alfie is a gem of it's time, a modern classic and the best of British. Very few are as moving, especially ones in which the narration comes direct from the main… More
  While Caine's performance is famously brilliant, it's often Gilbert's greatness that is unsung. Alfie is a gem of it's time, a modern classic and the best of British. Very few are as moving, especially ones in which the narration comes direct from the main character who looks at the audience, a brave and brilliantly achieved idea. If you love film and have yet to this, you really should make it a priority, I can't believe I left it so long!

• Lady D

  
  Alfie is a feminist's worse candidate, the era really allowed for such behaviour and to come across in film which is where this version and the remake differ a fair bit. Despite the age, it really reflects on the male ego of someone who fronts up to show he wants one thing,… More
  Alfie is a feminist's worse candidate, the era really allowed for such behaviour and to come across in film which is where this version and the remake differ a fair bit. Despite the age, it really reflects on the male ego of someone who fronts up to show he wants one thing, but perhaps is too scared to go for what he really wants. This version, compared to the remake does focus more on the working class, wheras the remake is more about charm and modern day living, in a more thriving place.

• First L

  
  Alfie makes an interesting companion to "Georgy Girl" (also from 1966); where Georgy was a positive person in a cynical world, Alfie is a cynic in a mostly positive world. Alfie's main skill, his main goal in life is getting women into bed, and he seems to care about… More
  Alfie makes an interesting companion to "Georgy Girl" (also from 1966); where Georgy was a positive person in a cynical world, Alfie is a cynic in a mostly positive world. Alfie's main skill, his main goal in life is getting women into bed, and he seems to care about little else. Whether its sleeping with married women, stealing hitchhikers away from other truckers or taking advantage of women who profess to love him, it's all the same to Alfie, who regards woman as little more than beast (if we are to believe him), whom he often refers to as "it". Alfie's joyous and care-free romp through life is often side-tracked by frequent pregnancys, which require frequent abortions as well. These never seem to affect him until he's confronted with the ugly process firsthand. When he tries to make something of his life, he finds himself all alone. The women he took advantage of wind up growing up and moving on with life without him. Michael Caine delivers a superb performance as Alfie, lending a depth to an otherwise despicable cad. The film itself is extraordinarily well-made, and it's final act leaves quite an emotional impact on the viewer.

• Sophie B

  
  This was boring, annoying and didn't seem to have much of a story to it. I saw no change in the character of Alfie that I saw in the newer version. I really don't like this.

• Dean M

  
  Wild and ribald comedy about a Cockney playboy who finds "birds" irresistible. Full of sex and delightful charm, this quick-moving British film also tells the poignant tragedy of a man uncrertain about his lifestyle. Michael Caine was superb in the title role.

• xGary X

  
  One of Michael Caine's most famous roles is another of those zeitgeist movies that sums up perfectly the time in which they were made; in this case, London's swinging sixties. Caine's effortless charm is at the core of this comedy of sexual mores, but it skillfully… More
  One of Michael Caine's most famous roles is another of those zeitgeist movies that sums up perfectly the time in which they were made; in this case, London's swinging sixties. Caine's effortless charm is at the core of this comedy of sexual mores, but it skillfully shifts to a much darker tone once Alfie starts to experience the repercussions of his lascivious actions. A minor classic.

• Michael G

  
  Pretty disappointing. Shelly Winters was actually attractive though.

• Mike T

  
  A brisk, energetic comedy that is completely satisfying on a superficial level. However, what I believe carries it into the territory of being a great film is what exists beneath the surface. This is a very mature, intricate character study of a man who is not often easy to take… More
  A brisk, energetic comedy that is completely satisfying on a superficial level. However, what I believe carries it into the territory of being a great film is what exists beneath the surface. This is a very mature, intricate character study of a man who is not often easy to take lightly or to view with a great deal of empathy. The picture's success is owed in large part to the screenplay and the direction, but Michael Caine's performance is the legendary component. He does genuinely amazing things with this role.

• Laura C

  
  I liked this movie better than I thought I would considering the main character is a womanizing a-hole. It took a sudden dark turn that took me off guard but redeems Alfie to a point. I guess if I'd read the synopsis it says it's an "extremely grim comedy." It… More
  I liked this movie better than I thought I would considering the main character is a womanizing a-hole. It took a sudden dark turn that took me off guard but redeems Alfie to a point. I guess if I'd read the synopsis it says it's an "extremely grim comedy." It certainly isn't marketed that way for obvious reasons.

• Marcus W

  
  On the one hand you have a brilliant performance by Caine with a 4D element that works superbly. On the other hand you have a character who is a selfish, mean, thoughtless, arrogant, unlikable bastard. I doubt many feminists will list this as their favourite movie, and the fact that… More
  On the one hand you have a brilliant performance by Caine with a 4D element that works superbly. On the other hand you have a character who is a selfish, mean, thoughtless, arrogant, unlikable bastard. I doubt many feminists will list this as their favourite movie, and the fact that Alfie never actually learns the error of his ways is both the films best move and it's worse. It's really good, but not.

• alan j

  
  another classic performance by michael..any fan of his needs to include this in their library

• Emily B

  
  I enjoyed this film. The character Alfie was a bit of a bastard towards his women (always refering to them as "it")but Michael Caine bought a certain charm to the character making him more likeable. This is meant to be a comedy but there were some pretty grim scenes (mainly… More
  I enjoyed this film. The character Alfie was a bit of a bastard towards his women (always refering to them as "it")but Michael Caine bought a certain charm to the character making him more likeable. This is meant to be a comedy but there were some pretty grim scenes (mainly the illegal abortion scen...(read more)e). Shelley Winters also put in a good performance who in the end gave Alfie a taste of his own medicine. In all a good film showing another side of 60s London, but nowadays is slightly dated.

• Sunil J

  
  Ew. The original is not always better. The acting is very good but what a downer of a movie that just keeps on sucking.

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