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 is a pointless sequel to a classic sixties film. It features a leading man who can't act of a character who would today end up in jail for sexual harassment. Its cheap and nasty and leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Not surprisingly this was Price's last feature film. He should have stuck to the music.

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.

Alfie Darling, the sequel to the classic ALFIE, is a pleasant old fashioned romp, that keeps you interested, but is not in the class of the original. The very handsome lead looks like a young Joe Dallesandro (cult underground actor for Andy Warhol) and is quite adequate in making you believe he's a big 'ladies man'. He also shows a bit of sweetness to go with those boyish good looks.

I'm not condemning this film for being sexist, its more titillating, and typical of the type of films they were showing as the second feature at Drive-Ins at the time. Its also great to see Joan Collins, a few years before she did Dynasty, showing a lot more than expected, actually totally topless. She plays a sort of well to do lady who likes to be wined and dined with all the charms and graces, but is also very kinky in the sack. Her scenes are quite camp actually, and worth seeing this film for, if you liked her in The Stud and The Bitch. Joan Collins is a sweetheart in real life, whom I met once at a book signing, and is a living treasure to this day. Robert. Australia.