Alfie

Alfie

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.