Alfie (Burt Bacharach song) Alfie (Burt Bacharach song) "Alfie" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to promote the 1966 film "Alfie". The song was a major hit for Cilla Black (UK) and Dionne Warwick (US). Although Bacharach has cited "Alfie" as his personal favorite of his compositions, he and Hal David were not eager to write a song to promote the film "Alfie" (a release from Paramount Pictures, which owned Famous Music) when approached by Ed Wolpin of the Composers' Guild. David thought the title character's name pedestrian: "Writing a song about a man called 'Alfie' didn't seem too exciting
Alfie (2004 film) an anger that might ignite his smooth presence." Manohla Dargis of "The New York Times" states: Unlike the 1966 British film on which it is based, with its abrasive star-making turn from Michael Caine, the new "Alfie" doesn't chase social significance - it just wants us to have a good time. The story's observations about male behavior aren't earth shattering...but what gives it its kick is how Alfie takes the film audience into his confidence. In both films, the character talks directly into the camera, a disarming strategy that brings us closer to this serial seducer than we might want.