Was Alfie in Alfie? Letter to The Daily Telegraph

[Guest]

Copyright 2004 Telegraph Group Limited
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)

October 23, 2004, Saturday

SECTION: Features; Letter to the Editor Pg. 27

LENGTH: 98 words

HEADLINE: What it was all about

BODY:
SIR - Burt Bacharach's haunting ballad Alfie was not part of the original score to the 1966 film, although it became so popular in the late 1960s that it was forever associated with it (Film on Friday, Oct 22).

The score was written and performed by the great saxophonist Sonny Rollins.

Rollins's playing, taking on the persona of a strutting, decadent, saxophonic Don Juan, gave a unique tautness to the bond between image and sound - and a kinship with Caine's performance as the debauched libertine that Bacharach's sentimental song would never have achieved.

John Harle

London N6

[Guest]

John,
Burt and Hal;s song was played over the titles......and as such had an
effect i believe..

[Steve S]

Also, Burt and Hal's song was NOT meant to represent the man Alfie. Sonny Rollins did that just fine, as you point out. Rather, it's an outsider looking in on him and challenging him - exactly what is your life all about, Alfie?