I've always felt that Efrem Zimbalist Jr.'s "Alfred" was the definitive one from the many Batman incarnations.
Michael Gough of Burton/Shumacher fame, who did an amazing job, still always came off at too ineffectual -- unless, of course, he's over stepping his bounds by letting Vicky Vale into the Batcave or taking his niece's measurements for a Batgirl suit (seriously, think about that last one for a second -- where did he get those measurements!?). I liked that he truly cared for Master Wayne's mental health, but he too often came off as too old to really help or just didn't want Bruce to be Batman at all.
Michael Caine from the Nolan trilogy, who was also amazing, had the opposite problem. He was so enabling that I'm surprised he didn't just ask if he could tuck Bruce into bed and put on his Batty jammies for him. Between that and the war stories and the inconsistencies in his actions ("Be Batman! Endure! Now don't! I love you! I promised your parents I'd protect you! That's why I'm leaving you!" Seriously -- WTF???)... I don't know. He came off as too psychotic. Or at least in need of some life coaches.
But Efrem's Alfred -- and credit to the Animated Series writers for this as well -- came off as having the perfect balance. He was scared for Bruce. One of the great scenes in Mask of the Phantasm is when Bruce puts on the Batman mask for the first time. The look of horror on Alfred's face says it all. His gasp of, "My GOD" tells us that he does not approve. And yet he bears with it. Efrem's Alfred never knew what to make of this Batman "thing." But he supported him when he could, always hoping Bruce would lead a normal life, but knowing that was for Bruce to decide in the end.
This final scene from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm so captures what made this Alfred the best. His advice is both REAL, PRAGMATIC, and still HOPEFUL. He worries that Bruce will become that which he fights against -- for vengeance blackens the soul. But he hasn't yet, and Alfred is still grateful.
If you haven't seen the movie -- then you should. It is, hands down, the best Batman movie ever made. And the closest, in spirit, to the original noir comics. Yes... better than Burton. Yes... better than Nolan. And yes... better than all their Alfreds.
Just don't watch this scene if you don't want it spoiled. It gives away a lot.
But if you HAVE seen it, you know what I'm talking about.
THIS will always be the Alfred I remember.
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