Michael Caine: 5 Awesome Performances And 5 That Sucked

By Joe Pring /

4. Alfred "Alfie" Elkins - Alfie (1966)

Alfie is not only a brilliant, unabashed comedy-drama film, but it also serves to remind us how extremely talented Michael Caine truly is. Oh and undeniably charming, let's not forget that part. Jude Law may have given the remake of Caine's classic his best shot, but it's this version that still shines the brightest. An early progenitor of the playboy, almost James Bond-esque womaniser, Alfie is a man that's almost allergic to commitment. One-night stand after one-night stand, Caine's performance as the unashamed ladies man is equal parts hilarious and tragic. As the film progresses, the suave and smooth talking bachelor eventually becomes a victim of his own promiscuous lifestyle; the irony of his inability to commit to a relationship hitting him hard in the face. But it's because of Caine that the film still persists today as a landmark in British cinema. The actor's ability to transition from comedy to drama and complete, tear-inducing emotional states in the film still persists as one of the greatest examples of his versatility.