Bill Naughton wrote this screen adaptation of his own highly successful play and the result, which cemented Michael Caine's screen stardom, was one of the British cinema's biggest comedy hits of the mid-Sixties.

Caine scores in spades as the totally amoral anti-hero who still remains engaging and likeable - a girl-chaser de luxe.

And there's a remarkable supporting cast, in which the women - especially Vivien Merchant - are all particularly good.

Funny, yes, but with some very dark moments - and the now seriously dated style does work against the film.