Search - Alfie on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1966 DVD Release: 02/27/2001 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 53 mins Studio: Paramount Total Copies: 5 Genres: Comedy Drama, Comedy of Manners, Sex Comedy See Also: Alfie

Michael Caine's first starring role was a foray into dramatic irony, scripted by Bill Naughton from his novel and play. Alfie (Caine) is a charming, rogueish Cockney who cannot get his fill of women. He uses them without shame or malice, jumping from one promiscuous female's bed to another without much thought or feeling. Of course, Alfie's not as carefree as he would have the audience -- to whom he often speaks directly -- think: he treats his pregnant, common-law wife, Gilda (Julia Foster), quite shabbily, and has an affair with a married woman (Vivien Merchant) that leaves her pregnant, for which Alfie arranges an abortion. In the end, Alfie never finds lasting meaning or pleasure but remains an unrepentant, if low-class, Don Juan. Caine was Oscar-nominated for his performance. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

Michael Caine - Alfie
Shelley Winters - Ruby
Millicent Martin - Siddie
Julia Foster - Gilda
Jane Asher - Annie

Alfie is superbly decadent on DVD. Director Lewis Gilbert's "Swinging London" imagery and the movie's cool jazz score by Sonny Rollins shine and shimmer, and Michael Caine's zippy dialogue skirts around the score, giving the movie as much charisma as the title character. Though the dialogue doesn't sound as dynamic as the score, perhaps because the score exists as cleaner source material, the one-two punch of sound and vision makes for an original, fun experience. The 2.35:1 aspect ratio frames all of the humorous antics, while allowing the director's use of space and blocking to highlight the characters' emotional separation. Supplemental material is a bit lacking, as only a funny two-minute trailer and a scene selection menu are selectable from the main menu. "Scene Selection" gives instant access to the DVD's 18 chapters via chapter titles and still frames. The interactive menus are attractive and appropriate to the movie's sense of style. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Movie Guide