Question 1

Why did Shelley Winters struggle with Michael Caine's dialogue in Alfie?

Accepted Answer

Shelley Winters couldn't understand Michael Caine's dialogue due to his strong Cockney accent, so she had to wait until he stopped moving his lips before responding with her lines.

Question 2

What was the budget of Alfie and what did director Lewis Gilbert famously say about it?

Accepted Answer

Alfie cost only £500,000, about which director Lewis Gilbert quipped that the sum was "the sort of money studio executives spend on cigar bills."

Question 3

How did the soundtrack for Alfie differ between its original release and later versions?

Accepted Answer

The original release had an all-instrumental soundtrack by Sonny Rollins. The Oscar-nominated song by Burt Bacharach and Hal David was added for the American release and a UK re-release, with different singers performing it.

Question 4

Which actors turned down the role of Alfie and why?

Accepted Answer

Several 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.

Question 5

What ironic age discrepancy exists between Alfie's comment about Harry and the actors' real ages?

Accepted Answer

Alfie says in horror about Harry, "He's 35 years old!" In reality, Michael Caine was 33 in 1966, while Alfie Bass who played Harry was 55.

Alfie

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