Alfie

The movie that rocketed Michael Caine to stardom cemented his image as a cockney lothario and gave him one of his most enduring catchphrases – so much so he called his autobiography “What’s It all about?” The role of womanizing cad alfie elkins fit the 33-year-old Londoner like a glove and earned him his first Oscar nomination. Based on the play by Bill naughton, Lewis gilbert’s film broke new ground by interspersing its amorous anti-hero’s sexual conquests with frank and witty confessionals delivered straight to camera. Such is Caine’s ease in front of the lens that this inherently theatrical device works beautifully on-screen, especially when alfie begins to query the value of his rootless, carefree existence. (Neil Smith)