Trivia and Quotes
Quotes
 Alfie: My understanding of women only goes as far as the pleasure. When it comes to the pain I`m like any other bloke - I don`t want to know. Alfie: Make a married woman laugh and you`re halfway there.
[talking about Gilda`s appearance while she is pregnant]
Alfie: Mind you, she came over quite beautified for a while, particularly during the early months. And I told her: I said "Blimey, girl, you ain`t as ugly as I thought".
Alfie: She`s got a little ginger moustache. But I find I`m quite willing to overlook the odd blemish in a woman, providing she`s got something to make up for it. Well, that`s what we`re all here for, innit - to help each other out in this life.
Alfie: I don`t want no bird`s respect - I wouldn`t know what to do with it.
Alfie: I`ve never told her that I love her - except at those times when you`ve *got* to say something for appearance`s sake.
Alfie: If you lose a bird you can always replace her. But with a child it`s different.
[speaking to camera as he is kissing Lily Clamacraft]
Alfie: Well, what harm can it do? Old Harry will never know. And even if he did, he shouldn`t begrudge me - or her, come to that. And it`ll round off the tea nicely.
[final words of the film]
Alfie: You know what? When I look back on my little life and the birds I`ve known, and think of all the things they`ve done for me and the little I`ve done for them, you`d think I`ve had the best of it along the line. But what have I got out of it? I`ve got a bob or two, some decent clothes, a car, I`ve got me health back and I ain`t attached. But I ain`t got me peace of mind - and if you ain`t got that, you ain`t got nothing. I dunno. It seems to me if they ain`t got you one way they`ve got you another. So what`s the answer? That`s what I keep asking myself - what`s it all about? Know what I mean?
Alfie: What I loved once and what I love now are two different things.
Alfie: I`ve told you before to be careful where you put your legs.
Alfie: You`re not entitled to secret thoughts!
Annie: Everyone`s entitled to secret thoughts!
Trivia
Several well-known actors (including Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey, James Booth and Anthony Newley) turned down the title role due to the then taboo subject matter of abortion. Despite having played "Alfie" on Broadway, Terence Stamp categorically declined to reprise the role on film, thus giving his good friend and then roommate Michael Caine the breakthrough role of his career.
The Jay twins, Helen Jay and Catherine Jay, (daughters of former UK ambassador to the USA, Peter Jay, and great-grand-daughters of Ernest Jay) made one of their first public appearances in this film.
The hospital scene was filmed in what is now York House, the Town Hall in Twickenham, Middlesex, UK.
The picture in Ruby`s flat is Vladimir Tretchikoff`s "Chinese Girl", popularly called "The Green Lady". It was one of the most popular and highest-selling prints of the 1960s.
On its original release, the film had an all instrumental soundtrack, by Sonny Rollins. The Oscar nominated song, by Bacharach and David, was added for the American release, and to a British re-release. For the UK release, the song was sung by Cilla Black over the end credits, which went to #9 on the British charts. For the US release, the song was originally to be sung by Dionne Warwick over the end credits, but was replaced at the last minute by the version sung by Cher. Ironically, Warwick`s version outperformed Cher`s on the Billboard charts.
Alfie! opened at the Morosco Theater on December 17, 1964 and ran for 21 performances.
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Michael Caine
(as Alfie Elkins)
with Shelley Winters
(as Ruby)
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