"Zulu" (1964), the 1964 epic retelling of a historic 19th-century battle in South Africa between British soldiers and Zulu warriors, brought Caine to international attention. Instead of being typecast as a low-ranking Cockney soldier, he played a snobbish, aristocratic officer. Although "Zulu" was a major success, it was the role of Harry Palmer in "The Ipcress File" (1965) and the title role in "Alfie" (1966) that made Caine a star of the first magnitude. He epitomized the new breed of actor in mid-'60s England, the working-class bloke with glasses and a down-home accent. However, after initially starring in some excellent films, particularly in the 1960s, including "Gambit" (1966), "Funeral in Berlin" (1966), "Play Dirty" (1969), "Battle of Britain" (1969), "Too Late the Hero" (1970), "The Last Valley" (1971) and especially "Get Carter" (1971), he seemed to take on roles in below-average films, simply for the money he could by then command.

There were some gems amongst the dross, however. He gave a magnificent performance opposite Sean Connery in "The Man Who Would Be King" (1975) and turned in a solid one as a German colonel in "The Eagle Has Landed" (1976). "Educating Rita" (1983) and Hannah and "Her Sisters' (1986) (for which he won his first Oscar) were highlights of the 1980s, while more recently "Little Voice" (1998), "The Cider House Rules" (1999) (his second Oscar) and "Last Orders" (2001) have been widely acclaimed.