Alfie! opened at the Morosco Theater on December 17, 1964 and ran for 21 performances.
First cinema film of Vivien Merchant.
On its original release, the film had an all instrumental soundtrack, by Sonny Rollins. The Oscar nominated song, by Bacharach and David, was added for the American release, and to a British re-release. For the UK release, the song was sung by Cilla Black over the end credits, which went to #9 on the British charts. For the US release, the song was originally to be sung by Dionne Warwick over the end credits, but was replaced at the last minute by the version sung by Cher. Ironically, Warwick's version outperformed Cher's on the Billboard charts.
Second billed Shelley Winters only has three scenes.
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.
The hospital scene was filmed in what is now York House, the Town Hall in Twickenham, Middlesex, UK.
The Jay twins, Helen Jay and Catherine Jay, (daughters of former UK ambassador to the USA, Peter Jay, and great-grand-daughters of Ernest Jay) made one of their first public appearances in this film.
The picture in Ruby's flat is Vladimir Tretchikoff's "Chinese Girl", popularly called "The Green Lady". It was one of the most popular and highest-selling prints of the 1960s.