Daily Dialogue — November 23, 2012

“You know what? When I look back on my little life and the birds I’ve known, and think of all the things they’ve done for me and the little I’ve done for them, you’d think I’ve had the best of it along the line. But what have I got out of it? I’ve got a bob or two, some decent clothes, a car, I’ve got me health back and I ain’t attached. But I ain’t got me peace of mind — and if you ain’t got that, you ain’t got nothing. I dunno. It seems to me if they ain’t got you one way they’ve got you another. So what’s the answer? That’s what I keep asking myself — what’s it all about? Know what I mean?”

— Alfie (Michael Caine), Alfie (1966), screenplay by Bill Naughton based on his play

The Daily Dialogue theme for the week: Breaking the 4th Wall, suggested by Shaula Evans. Today’s suggestion by Shea Vitartas.

Trivia: Several well-known actors (including Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey, James Booth and Anthony Newley) turned down the title role due to the then taboo subject matter of abortion. Despite having played “Alfie” on Broadway, Terence Stamp categorically declined to reprise the role on film, thus giving his good friend and then roommate Michael Caine the breakthrough role of his career.

Dialogue On Dialogue: The end of the movie. Final lines. Time to sum it all up, right? Or raise a question that throws everything up in the air…