HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds are being spent to dig up a Liverpool street to film a re-make of Alfie starring Jude Law and Mira Sorvino.
 The area surrounding the old Halifax Bank on the corner of Brunswick Street and Fenwick Street is being resurfaced to resemble a New York street. A Hollywood crew, including the sought-after British actor Jude Law and Mighty Aphrodite star Mira Sorvino, as well as Father Of the Bride director Charles Shyer, will descend on Liverpool for one day of shooting. Work started in the area last Monday and will take two weeks to complete ready for filming later this month. The streets will then be returned to their normal appearance, at a cost estimated to be as much as £250,000. In addition the old Halifax Bank building, number 6 Brunswick Street, is being given an internal make-over to turn it into a glamorous Manhattan florists. Assistant location manager Claire Newton has written to local business on behalf of Paramount Pictures preparing them for the disturbance. She said: "Work will incorporate work on the existing pavement to transform them with a layer of concrete into New York-looking footpaths. "We will be implementing a road closure on Brunswick Street and Fenwick Street from 7am-8pm on Saturday September 13. "The area will be then be returned to its normal state by September 20." She added: "Work is currently pre-production and the film has not yet got a name or release date." The film, being made by Paramount Pictures, is a new version of the 1960s Michael Caine hit but has been re-written to see Alfie living in New York and working as a limousine driver. Director Charles Shyer - who also directed Private Benjamin with Goldie Hawn - has already visited the city to do a wreckie of the location and 60 extras are being recruited. The crew have also been filming in Manchester, Pinewood studios in London and back in New York itself. Lynn Saunders of the city council's film office said: "The amount of preparation put in by this film crew for one day's filming is unprecedented. "This is a great vote of conficence for the city as a great film location." | 
