Alfie Darling

Nearly a decade after Michael Caine's womanizing "Alfie" (1966) took the English-speaking world by storm, the cocky Cockney returned in the form of animalistic Alan Price. This time he's a trucker, communing from woman to woman, with partner Paul Copley (as Bakey). As expected, "Alfie Darling" gets bitten by the commitment bug, this time in the form of Jill Townsend (as Abby Summers). This film has some similarities to the later "Alfie" (2004), starring Jude Law (eg Mr. Copley and his girlfriend).

Mr. Price, the rock musician who worked so memorably with Eric Burdon and "The Animals" (as well as on his own), hasn't the "fourth wall" cheekiness of Caine, but he and director Ken Hughes makes this "Alfie Darling" sexier than the other two, with a greater emphasis on female flesh. A version for television cut out all the naughty bits, so look around. Also missing is an ending which, while a real downer, makes the trimmed version inconsequential; originally, it felt like a castration. Take your pick.

***** Alfie Darling (1975) Ken Hughes ~ Alan Price, Jill Townsend, Paul Copley, Joan Collins

In this in-name-only sequel to Michael Caine's Alfie (1966), musician Alan Price (of The Animals) takes over the title role in Oh, Alfie! (alternate title to Alfie Darling) He's not bad and neither is Jill Townsend as Abby Summers, a magazine editor who has trouble taking time off for dating Alfie but somehow does. Not that the bloke has completely changed his ways, certainly not with Joan Collins playing one of his conquests. Alfie's encounters with her jealous husband is one of the highlights here. Having read of some topless scenes from the last comment, when I saw this on the Flick by Flick blog, I was very disappointed they were all cut out! What was left was some pretty bawdy scenes near the end that upped the entertainment a little. In closing, while Oh, Alfie! wasn't any great shakes, it's certainly a nice distraction for about 90 minutes.

This movie from 1975 is a sequel to the very successful original 'Alfie' which was released in 1966. That film starred Michael Caine as the Cockney wide-boy 'bedding birds' around 1960's London. In this follow-up that character Alfie Elkins is now played by Alan Price and he is now a long-distance trans-European HGV driver. The setting is now 1970's London and France. This film is nowhere near as good as the original, the real problem lies with the fact that Alan Price is a far better musician than he is an actor. His acting was passable in 'Oh Lucky Man' but here – in the lead role – his monotonous Geordie monotone begins to grate over the course of the 90-minute film. However he is still chasing the women and a number of faces crop up in this film who went on to achieve greater fame elsewhere. That's the real fun in this movie – watching out for them - I'm sure many of them regretted their appearance here in retrospect! First his cab-mate/co-driver is played by Paul Copley, seen here as a slim and long-haired 20-something. And despite the genre of this film he keeps his clothes on throughout – interesting as U.K. viewers saw him recently in an episode of the TV series 'Shameless' in an extended full-frontal scene. Paul is now of course middle-aged with considerably less hair but more lard around his stomach! Not a pretty sight. Also appearing as one of Alfie's birds is Vicki Michelle (her appearance spans the opening titles). Her topless scene here features her as an English teacher in France. She later became famous of course as Yvette in the BBC's 'Allo Allo' comedy series, playing a French waitress trying to speak English! Another of Alfie's girls is played by Joan Collins, again another topless scene several years before her Stud/Bitch 'disco' movie money-spinners. And then there is Rula Lenska in another topless scene , she is a star of many movies and TV plays shown here in U.K. And Sheila White, a couple of years before her supporting role as Rosie Noggett in the 'Confessions' movies. Also the lovely Hannah Gordon – sadly fully clothed here throughout though! Her daughter is played by Patsy Kensit making a VERY young (and dentally-challenged) appearance here. Brian Wilde crops up as a doctor, before his many years playing Foggy in the long-running BBC comedy series 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Annie Ross also appears as yet another girlfriend – again topless. However the main attention of Alfie's desires throughout this film is Abby Summers, played by Jill Townsend, who went on to play Elizabeth in the 'Poldark' TV series. Alfie pursues her in France, in her London office and eventually via a car-chase which features jumps and speeded-up film – like something out of 'Dukes of Hazzard' in fact. As she is driving a compact Triumph Spitfire and he is driving a large American V8 convertible (I believe it's a Pontiac Firebird - could any U.S reviewer please confirm) he does of course catch up with her. They begin a relationship but there is a twist at the end which I won't reveal here as no spoilers! In summary, this is an average film, quite watchable, but ultimately a sad sequel to its far superior predecessor.

This film is a curiosity only, though quite entertaining and enjoyable in parts...it really doesn't compare with the original Alfie on any level. Still, great to see the wonderful Paul Copley with so much hair! Mainly I've written to challenge the ludicrous assertion by "reviewer" DC1977 that Alan Price is "a second rate musician". He wasn't much of an actor, sure, but as a founder member of The Animals, he's one of the greatest rock organists to come out of the sixties, right up there with Matthew Fisher from Procol Harum, Jon Lord from Deep Purple and Goldy McJohn from Steppenwolf. DC1977s comment is, quite simply, idiotic. Thankyou, and goodnight!

Alan Price takes the title role in this sequel. Anyway the cast included a young Joan Collins; Rula Lenska; Vicki Michelle and Annie Ross as well. He falls for a magazine journalist while traveling to France. He doesn't give up on this conquest. I love the film location sequences between France and England. Scottish American actress and singer, Annie Ross, has some memorable scenes as well. I didn't care for the ending.