What's it All About?

Gentlemen and enlightened ladies,

The first film entered into the bachelor film hall of fame is "Alfie" from 1966 starring Michael Caine. Caine, a bachelor legend in real life as well, plays the title character, a cynical cockney who drifts from bird to bird having adult adventures and breaking the fourth wall. Unlike other gender reversed Cinderella films, Alfie does not use his significant ability with the ladies for status mobility or other perks. He is content to stay where he is, as a working class limo driver, as long as he has plenty of women to love and leave. The Swingin' 60's of London are on full display and it becomes apparent that for all its alleged liberation and debauchery, it was still very much a man's world. "Alfie" also shows the dark side of living entirely for one's self. When Alfie is forced to come face to face with the consequences of his callousness, it is truly heartbreaking, and the audience that has lived vicariously through Alfie for nearly the entire film realizes, along with Alfie, that all the suits and all the birds don't mean a thing if you ain't got peace of mind. A must watch for any aspiring bachelor.

Bonus points for the music by the legendary Burt Bacharach.