20-409: Alfie Darling (also known as Oh Alfie! and Oh Alfie ) is a 1975 British comedy-drama film written and directed by Ken Hughes , and starring Alan Price , Jill Townsend , Paul Copley and Joan Collins . It is the sequel to Alfie (1966), with Alan Price taking over Michael Caine 's role. It is based on the 1970 novel of the same name by Bill Naughton (who wrote the play upon which
40-462: A Welsh father and an English mother, Peggy. In his 2007 autobiography, Mower states that he believed for years that his year of birth was 1940, but later he discovered that his birth was not registered and he was born on 12 September 1938. After first training as an engineering draughtsman at the Cowley plant of Pressed Steel Company , Mower graduated from RADA . Mower first came to prominence in
60-571: A Window Cleaner (1974)" and said it was regrettably difficult to find many kind words to say about" the movie. FilmInk said it "suffers very, very, very badly in comparison to the original, which turned Michael Caine into a star (you may feel differently if you like Alan Price)." Comedy-drama Comedy drama , also known by the portmanteau dramedy , is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama . In films, serious dramatic themes (such as death, illness, etc.) are dealt with realism and subtlety, while preserving
80-637: A comedy drama, this hybrid genre often deals with real life situations, grounded characters, and believable situations. The ratio between the drama and comedy can vary, but most of the time there is an equal measure of both, with neither side dominating. Abreu also adds that dramedies often deal with relatable and serious topics such as divorce, illness, hardship, and heartache. Examples of comedy dramas in American film include: Examples of American television comedy dramas include: Patrick Mower Patrick Mower (born Patrick Archibald Shaw ; 12 September 1938)
100-462: A humorous tenor. In television, modern scripted comedy dramas tend to have more humour integrated into the story than the comic relief common in drama series but usually contain a lower joke rate than sitcoms . In the very influential Greek theatre , plays were considered comedies or tragedies. This concept even influenced Roman theatre and theatre of the Hellenistic period . Theatre of that era
120-425: A lead had not been found for Alfie Darling , adding, "We are still hoping Michael Caine will do it for us. If we can get the right script and present it to him I think there is a chance he may agree. But if we cannot get Mike it will be someone of that stature." Patrick Mower says Ken Hughes offered him the role and Mower was going to play it, but then the producer's "12 year old daughter" saw Alan Price on Top of
140-509: A rise in film and television works that could be described as comedy-dramas. The term is a translation from the French "comédie dramatique". The portmanteau "dramedy" came to be in the 1980s. In January 2022, Rafael Abreu, writing for the StudioBinder filmmaking blog, defined this genre as follows: A dramedy is a movie or program that balances the elements of a drama and a comedy. Also known as
160-496: Is an English actor. He is often known for his portrayal of Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale , a role he first played in 2000. Mower has extensively appeared in a wide range of films and television series, including Swizzlewick , The Devil Rides Out , Monella , Callan , Special Branch and Target . Mower was born the youngest of three boys in Oxford , to
180-523: Is thought to have long-lasting influence, even in modern narrative works. Even today, works are often classified into two broad buckets, dramas and comedies. For instance, many awards that recognize achievements in film and television today, such as the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards segregate several award categories into these two classifications. The 20th century saw
200-529: The James Bond franchise . However, he was told that he was too young. Mower's television roles afterwards included guest appearances in Jason King , Space: 1999 , UFO (episode " The Square Triangle "), Minder , The Sweeney and Bergerac . In October 2000, he made his first appearance as Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale , a role he has portrayed since. He also appeared in
220-800: The Pops and recommended Price play the role. Price's casting was announced in June 1974. Price was a singer who had featured prominently in O Lucky Man! (1973) but who had not acted in a film before. Price said, "When I was first offered the part I had to weigh up the odds of what sort of job I could do. I came to the conclusion that with plenty of assistance from the director and a little help from some of my friends I could win through." Filming started 27 August 1973 and took place in London, Brighton and Southampton , in addition to two weeks' filming in Le Havre , France. The film
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#1732875691645240-433: The back until the customs' officer catches her topless. When arriving at their destination, he spots a woman in a sports car. They start racing until the police break it up. Alfie soon finds comfort by flirting with the married waitress Louise, who takes him to her apartment. During the night, her husband returns from his fishing trip, but Bakey, outside in the truck, sounds the horn as a warning. Alfie later catches up with
260-544: The consequences of an encounter with Norma and the wrath of the husband of older Fay, when said husband discovers Alfie's wallet under their bed. With Fay's encouragement, Alfie apologizes to Abby about leaving her apartment in a huff and asks her for a proper dinner. On a holiday in France, he tells her what he never says to his lovers – that he loves her and wants her to marry him. She initially refuses. Alfie angrily insists that he has asked her to marry him, demanding to know what
280-571: The early 1970s, as the ruthless government assassin James Cross in the ITV spy series Callan . He then appeared as DCI Tom Haggerty in Special Branch , Det. Supt. Steve Hackett, the lead character in the police series Target , and featured in one of the last Carry On films, Carry On England . In the late 1960s, at the age of 28, Mower auditioned and was considered for the role of James Bond in
300-543: The first film was based). Price also wrote the title song. The film premiered at the Universal Cinema in London on 6 March 1975. After experiencing a failure in the ending of the earlier film, Alfie – now working as a London to France HGV driver alongside Bakey – decides to get back to his old self. And his new occupation provides new opportunities to do so. The film starts as Bakey drives the truck through customs in France, while Alfie has sex with an English hitchhiker in
320-443: The fold", said Cohen, who had made several films with the producer. "We promise to give audiences a funny, tender and moving film." In January 1971, Michael Caine said he was open to starring in the film, stating "So much happened to me after Alfie maybe a lot more glorious things could happen after a sequel." In May 1973, Nat Cohen announced the film would be made as part of a slate of seven movies worth £5 million in all. Cohen said
340-563: The following day. In the morning Alfie waits for her in the airport, not having heard that her plane has crashed without any survivors. Upon learning the news, Alfie drives to the crash site and cries over the wreckage. The film is based on the 1970 novel Alfie Darling by Bill Naughton. It is a sequel to Alfie , which had been a radio play, then play and film. Film rights were purchased in August 1970 by Joseph Janni and Anglo-EMI then under Nat Cohen . "I am delighted that Joe Janni has rejoined
360-937: The hell is wrong with her that she refused. As he leaves their hotel room, he tells her that if she is making an idiot of him, he will kill her. Back in the UK, Alfie suffers a minor accident and is bed-ridden. Abby pays him a visit to apologise for refusing his marriage proposal, and expresses her acceptance. She then has to take a quick work-related flight. When Abby leaves for the airport, Alfie's older neighbour, Claire, hears from another neighbour that Alfie can't move, she lets herself into his apartment and serves him tea. When Alfie comments on Claire's perfume, she reveals her true feelings for him by suddenly entering his bed and taking her top off. She ignores his protests but then her attempts to mount him fix his back, and he escapes before she succeeds in making actual intimate contact. Alfie catches Abby before her flight takes off, and they decide to marry
380-487: The woman from the race and learns her name is Abby and that she is a sophisticated magazine editor. When she turns him down, he proceeds to stalk her until, after another car chase, she finally agrees to a date. When Alfie gets his wish, he suffers erectile dysfunction and leaves her apartment in anger. This failure causes him to use his little black book to contact women with whom he has a casual relationship. However, some of these encounters lead him into trouble. He faces
400-480: Was described by a Punch reviewer as a "prize catastrophe". He was critical of Price's performance and described the idea of making him a leading man as "misbegotten". Time Out called the film "an advert with no product to sell". The Monthly Film Bulletin criticised the film's "coarse triviality." Derek Malcolm in The Guardian wrote that the film was "pitched. .. on the level of Confessions of
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