Arthur

Plot synopsis:
Arthur Bach is a rich socialite from a financially powerful English family, based in the New York City area. Though his family has built great prestige for themselves, Arthur is an embarrassment. He cavorts with women, including prostitutes, he drinks heavily and is often seen publicly inebriated, and consistently makes a spectacle of himself, which is often documented in newspapers and tabloids.Arthur's father and his grandmother demand that Arthur marry a woman named Susan Johnson, herself the daughter of another powerful businessman, Burt Johnson. The marriage would lead to a lucrative business partnership between Arthur's father and Johnson and would secure Arthur's sizable inheritance. Arthur, however, does not love Susan and is depressed because he feels he's being coerced.One day, while in Bergdorf-Goodman's store in Manhattan Arthur spots a young woman, Linda Marolla, stealing a necktie (a birthday present for her unemployed father). One of the store's security guards follows her outside and Arthur and his servant, Hobson, follow them as well. Linda quickly makes a scene when the guard accuses her of the theft, but Arthur steps in and covers for her, saying she was buying the tie for him. The guard is apologetic and leaves. Arthur kisses Linda in front of a crowd to continue the ruse, and then asks her for her phone number. He also offers his limo and chauffeur, Mr Bitterman, to Linda to get home.Arthur takes Linda out on a date and the two instantly fall for each other. Arthur meets later with his father, who expresses his disappointment at Arthur's reputation as a rich playboy. Arthur tells his father that he refuses to marry Susan, at which point his father threatens to cut off his inheritance of $750 million. Arthur acquiesces and takes his mother's engagement ring to give to Susan. Arthur later meets with his grandmother, Martha, the Bach family matriarch, who tells him the same thing his father did: she'll cut him off if he doesn't marry Susan. She also suggests that while he's married to Susan, he can still see Linda on the side. Arthur, however, does not want to carry on an unfaithful relationship with Linda but still agrees to marry Susan.Arthur later discusses the matter with Hobson, with whom he has a closer relationship than his own father. Hobson tells Arthur to respect his family's wishes and marry Susan. Hobson, however, recognizes that Arthur is indeed in love with Linda.Before leaving to pick up Susan to propose to her, Arthur calls Linda and tells her the truth. Linda seems mostly unfazed by the news, however, her father breaks down at the thought of her daughter missing the chance to marry a millionaire. At Burt Johnson's house, Arthur talks to Johnson himself, who tells the young playboy that he doesn't approve of his excessive drinking. He also explains a bit about his upbringing, relating a story about how he killed a burglar at the age of 11. To Johnson, the most important thing in his life is Susan, and he would kill to protect her.Susan and Arthur go to a posh restaurant where Arthur proposes to her. Though Susan knows about Arthur's philandering and drunkenness, she still will marry him. Arthur takes Susan home and then drives to Linda's apartment very late at night and even drunker than he was at dinner. He offers Linda $100,000 for her trouble, which she refuses and orders Arthur to leave.The next day, Arthur has a brief argument with Hobson concerning his future. Arthur, who has been mostly passive all his life, apologizes to Hobson for raising his voice. Hobson takes Arthur's attitude to heart and visits Linda and her father. He tells Linda that Arthur and Susan's engagement party is being held at Arthur's family home in Southampton, Long Island. He also gives her a stylish dress to wear, knowing that she'll go. Right before he leaves, Hobson coughs and seems weak, but he dismisses Linda's questions about it.Linda arrives at the engagement party and, when she sees Arthur singing to his fiance, begins to flirt with another guest, claiming she'd met him before. Arthur sees her there and sends the bewildered man away to get them drinks. Arthur takes Linda on a tour of the house and they end up in the horse stables. Their conversation proves that they are still in love with each other. When Susan interrupts, Linda tries to cover for Arthur by saying she'd come to beg him for money, however, Susan brings unhappy news: back in New York, Hobson has been taken to the hospital and his very ill. Arthur leaves immediately to see Hobson.At the hospital, Arthur tries to make things as comfortable as possible for Hobson, bringing in his own bed, having meals delivered from expensive restaurants, buying him presents and staying in the hospital room with him. Arthur also has the wedding postponed. During the time he cares for Hobson, Arthur stays sober and stops his philandering and excessive spending, having spent a large amount of his own money to keep his friend comfortable. Hobson eventually dies, causing Arthur incredible grief. Arthur goes to a small bar and becomes incredibly drunk a few hours before the wedding. He goes home and dresses for the wedding and, still drunk, visits Linda at the diner where she works as a waitress. Arthur asks her to marry him, despite the fact that he will lose his inheritance and be poor. Linda agrees and she agrees to go with him to tell Susan.Arthur is late arriving at the church. He finds Susan in one of the back rooms and tells her he doesn't love her. Susan becomes upset and calls for her father, who begins to beat Arthur up. Linda arrives. trying to protect Arthur, however, Johnson, grabbing a small cheese knife, starts after Arthur and Linda. Suddenly, Martha Bach appears and slaps Johnson, bringing him out of his murderous rage. Arthur walks out to the dais in the church and tells everyone that the wedding is off and that he'll likely not see many of them again because he'll become poor when his family cuts off his inheritance. He collapses in front of them.After all the guests have left, Arthur and Linda talk on the dais, while Martha listens from the pews. Arthur promises to be faithful to Linda and begins to talk about finding a job when Martha interrupts and says that no heir of her family will ever be working class. She tells Arthur that he can have his full inheritance and can stay with Linda. At first, Arthur refuses, but accepts. He then has Bitterman drive he and Linda through Central Park together.

Tags: comedy, entertaining

Review:
Performances by everyone involved should be duly noted: Geraldine Fitzgerald plays Arthur's loving-yet-ruthless grandmother, Sir John Gielgud almost steals the entire show with his acidic droll-isms (He took home the Oscar for this one), and Christopher Cross provides the Main Theme song (Oscar winner "Best That You Can Do").
But the triumvirate of Moore as Arthur, Liza Minnelli as Linda, and Sir Johnny G as the butler Hobson, dripping with sarcasm and at the pinnacle of his considerable talent, make this more than a throw-away farce.All the best lines belong to Gielgud, and the Academy Award was hardly adequate for such a legendary performance.
This 1981 comedy still sparkles thanks to the combined efforts of writer/director Steve Gordon and stars Dudley Moore and John Gielgud.
In probably her most likable film role, Liza Minnelli hands the picture to her male co-stars by toning down her usual razzle-dazzle personality and making Linda quite genuine in motivation.A pre-"LA Law" Jill Eikenberry plays Susan just at the right passive-aggressive note, while Barney Martin (Jerry's dad on "Seinfeld") steals all his scenes as Linda's slovenly father Ralph.
The late Dudley Moore had the most famous role of his too-short career in 1981's ARTHUR, a raucously funny and alternately touching tale that generates warm smiles, big belly-laughs, and an occasional tear if you're in the right mood.
Moore received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance as Arthur Bach, a drunken playboy who "races cars, plays tennis, fondles women, but he has weekends off and he's his own boss." Arthur is destined to inherit 750 million dollars when he marries a snooty society girl named Susan Johnston (Jill Eikenberry)who is the spoiled daughter of an undercover gangster.
The late Sir John Gielgud won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his flawless turn as Arthur's acid-tongued butler and best friend, Hobson, whose outward disdain for Arthur's behavior covers more paternal feelings.
Anyway, the great Dudley Moore CBE stars as a spoiled drunken millionaire who is engaged to Jill Eikenberry's character in the film.
Jill would later star on LA Law. Anyway, he is served by his wonderful British butler, Sir John Gielgud OM who won an Academy Award for his performance in the film as Best Supporting Actor.
Arthur falls in love with Liza Minnelli's character who is perfect in this film besides her performance in her Oscar winning role in Cabaret.
It's very funny, with a great performances by Dudley Moore (in the title role), Sir John Gielgud (as his butler) and Liza Minelli (as his love interest).
He spent a good deal of his time getting himself intoxicated on various spirits and making a public spectacle of himself, just like Dudley Moore does.
We should all have such troubles.John Gielgud in his nearly century of life certainly did better work than in Arthur on film and in fact Gielgud is more prominently known for his stage performances.
If Peter Cook (who Moore was said to have based Arthur on) was really like this when he was drunk then i don't why any comedians stay sober!Now, without making unnecessary comparisons to the remake, i thought that considering that Dudley Moore was in his forties when he made this i couldn't deny his decidedly English charm oh and that laugh!
I really wanted to like this movie, and it was OK, but it was not as good as O remember.Plot in A Paragraph: Arthur (Dudley Moore) is a happy drunk with no ambition in life.
Arthur does as he's told and proposes, but then meets a girl (Liza Minelli) with no money who he could easily fall in love with.Dudley Moore's drunk act had me cringing, and found it annoying, yet his sober Arthur was more watchable.
Liza Minelli is a joy (as always) as Linda Marolla, as is Geraldine Fitzgerald as Martha (Arthur's Grandmother) but it is John Geilgud as Hobson that steals the show (and rightfully took home the Oscar) that steals the show.
As a poor little rich boy who refuses to grow up and desires to spend his every waking moment drunk, Moore breathes life into what would otherwise be a caricature, making him touching, human and as frail as a child.Steve Gordon's writing and directing are both impeccable; the look is befitting a fairy tale.
Some of Moore's drunk scenes are forced, parts of the film are wobbly, but the cast performs with so much relish it's a difficult movie to resist.
A film about a merry rich drunkard living a consequence-free lifestyle in the Big City may not seem promising entertainment, yet after 20 minutes "Arthur" makes you wish they just left it at that.Instead, you get a long, dreary tale in two parts, one a tragedy of a friendship cut short by death, the other a rom-com between the title character and a perky shoplifter who doesn't mind Arthur's alcoholic foibles given the nine-figure nest egg involved.It all boils down to money.
God may not love a drunk, but someone apparently did.One Oscar went to John Gielgud as Arthur's butler, Hobson, a font of bitter witticisms.
He is also wistful and real..one of the film's best lines is his poignant "Not Everyone who drinks is a poet...some of us drink because we're not poets." The great Sir John Gielgud won a much deserved Oscar for his splendid performance as Hobson,Arthur's valet and caretaker.Although He considered it a "take the money and run role",He brings to the character all the talent ,experience and bravura of an expert tragidian and a sly comedian.
The tag line is "The World's Richest Playboy", Arthur Bach (Moore), is a dipsomaniacal millionaire in NYC, who squanders money on drinks and female companions at the drop of a hat, only his dissolute bachelor days are numbered because he is arranged to walk down the isle with Susan Johnson (Eikenberry), a girl from a well-minted family but he doesn't love, otherwise he will be cut off from his gazillion inheritance, and just at that crunch, he meets the girl of his dream, Linda Marolla (Minnelli), a waitress from Queens, and the rest of the story is not difficult to conjecture, it is a choice between love and money, if Arthur has to relinquish one, what will he choose?
ARTHUR is director/writer Steve Gordon's only feature film, who prematurely died of a heart attack in 1982, it is a box office sensation and also incredibly, a victorious Oscar contender, broad comedies embraced by the academy has become more and more like gold dust as time goes by, Sir John Gielgud, won an Oscar for his prudent, sophisticated impersonation of Hobson, Arthur's devout butler and indeed, a father figure to him, whose mordant elocution and snobbish/avuncular poise is the perfect antidote of Arthur's excessive jests when he is plastered, also his bowing out denouement tactfully renders the film its well-earned moment of poignancy.
A pint-size dynamo, Mr. Moore injects an honest-t0-goodness likability once we knows Arthur better, he is a none-too-objectionable man-child and devoid of any wiles awash in the adult society, cocooned in his money-gilded bubble since his birth, but eventually he braves himself to face an impending sea change when he falls in love for the very first time, and Arthur's transmogrification doesn't, as one might habitually dread, comes off as overly mawkish or unduly therapeutic, there is a bracing message in this tall-tale: Arthur doesn't have to better himself to get the girl, instead, he is still the old self when the film reaches its coda, his drinking problem is hard to peter away, so is his compulsive joke-cracking under the influence one might surmise, the only thing has changed is that he experiences love and loss, and is not afraid of getting out of his comfort zone (although the ending lets rip a knowing whiff of jubilation, actually you can have your cake and eat it too!), and lucky enough to find someone who can reciprocate his feelings because who he is, not what he is bestowed (here I mean Linda, not Hobson).On the petticoat front, Ms. Minnelli's puckish moxie is a good match of Arthur's benign wackiness, and Irish veteran Geraldine Fitzgerald evidently have a field day as Arthur's savvy grandmother Martha, everyone must behave on her say-so.
While John Gielgud's superb performance as Hobson gained an Oscar, this film was going to either soar or crash on Dudley Moore's performance as Arthur.
Dudley Moore plays Arthur, a charming, funny, and lovable millionaire who also happens to be a compulsive drunk.
You'll instantly fall in love with the wild and exuberant Arthur, but more so his sarcastic and witty servant Hobson, played by John Gielgud in a magnificent Oscar winning performance.
Liza Minnelli plays Linda, Arthur's love interest and she does just as excellent job and delivers a heartwarmingly funny performance with the rest of the cast.Arthur also reminds us of a time when comedies didn't have to be so crude to be funny.
Arthur himself may be occasionally clichéd, but Dudley Moore plays the role with great comic timing and charm, you don't mind so much.
Directed by the Late Steve Gordon, 'Arthur' is a Funny and Charming Romantic-Comedy, that turns out to be a memorable watch.
Dudley Moore stars as 'Arthur', A drunken millionaire playboy from New York City who is on the brink of an arranged marriage to a wealthy heiress, but ends up falling for a common working-class girl from Queens, played by Liza Minnelli.Steve Gordon's Writing is solid, at most places and offers some really entertaining & interesting moments.
Music by Burt Bacharach, is lovely.Performance-Wise: Late Dudley Moore has a blast playing 'Arthur'.
How it could garner such a pitiful rating by viewers here is a mystery to me.Dudley Moore is perfect as the spoiled but endearingly childlike rich man and John Gielgud earned a much-deserved Oscar for his portrayal as Arthur's loyal, father-like valet.The perhaps cliched, perhaps predictable rich man-poor girl plot still works.
As soon as Arthur (Dudley Moore) is introduced on screen and laughing like an idiot, I thought here comes almost two hours of unbearable viewing.
Arthur is a original (yet imitated ie Coming to America) comedy about a spoiled guy, played to comic finery by Dudley Moore; giving more quotes per capita than most Mel Brooks films can.
I won't say any more as I don't want them Spoiler Police after me again.Dudley Moore was perfect as Arthur, he plays the drunk so well and he can turn on the serious acting when required too.
The star of the show (for me) was John Gielgud as Hobson, he has some truly great lines, delivered with such dry wit, and I loved his performance in this one.
It's one of those rare, perfect storms of comedy where great writing (truly funny line after truly funny line) is paired with great direction and outstanding performances all at the same time.Dudley Moore got an Oscar nomination for "Arthur" but lost (although John Gielgud won for best supporting actor).
If Moore's performance in "Arthur" doesn't win a Best Actor Oscar -it's proof that no comedic actor could ever win the title (another example is Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein").Steve Gordon crafts the film beautifully keeping true to each of the characters and the warm-hearted tone of the story.
However, this film is literally made by Sir John Gielgud, who portrays Arthur's sarcastic but moral butler, Hobson.
Dudley Moore pulls off an absolutely delightful performance as a lovably funny and often drunk rich boy, Arthur Bach, who swoons over pauper lady Linda Marolla, smoothly played by Liza Minnelli.John Gielgud almost steals the show with his impeccable delivery as Hobson, Arthur's valet."Arthur" is on my short personal list of longtime favorite movies because of its ability to make you forget the outside world for a little bit and peek into these people's lives as you watch the film's story unfold.I took a real liking to the film when it first came out (I'd just graduated from high school).
Arthur Bach is a drunk, spoiled, and lecherous man (superbly played by Dudley Moore).
Without Dudley Moore, John Gielgud, Liza Minnelli, and a few others, this film could have been a disaster.
Without Dudley Moore, John Gielgud, Liza Minnelli, and a few others, this film could have been a disaster.
Dudley Moore's Arthur is such an unlikeable character that I could never get past him to enjoy any other aspect of the film.
No, there is a certain sense of 'let's just be professional, and do our best, and maybe they'll let our families go.' I'm sure that is not what happened, but something seems to hang over the production, and it there's some discomfort along with the entertainment.Once we're over the mild novelty of Sir John Geilgud reciting cuss-words, his performance isn't entirely convincing, and his appearance in this movie seems a little desperate.The dodgiest performance comes from Geraldine Fitzgerald, who, as Arthur's eccentric aged relative, seems like someone quite young, under some bad ageing make-up...but no, I see she was near seventy at the time this movie was made, so I don't know what happened there.Liza Minelli seems a little too vibrant for this strangely-paced film, and although she has scenes with Geilgud's character, they seem to belong in separate universes, or as though they were cartoons rendered by artists with completely differing styles.Most of the other comments on this movie have been very complimentary, and I feel I am being a misery here, but there you go.Oh, and why would Arthur and Linda have to starve if his family cut him off without a cent?
This is because it is not the alcohol which is dangerous, but the person drinking it which is!As a drunk the late Dudley Moore plays Arthur superbly.
We actually see how at ease Moore is with the piano, as his character; Arthur plays it to the guests of his party.As for the late Sir John Gielgud, his role as the butler is made less by the lines he has to say, but more to do with the way he delivers them, with a deadpan expression, albeit with a glint in his eyes.
Even though Dudley is laugh out loud funny throughout the entire film, what makes his performance memorable is the bar scene where he shows his true emotions and his love for Hobson.
Excellent comedy starred by Dudley Moore supported by Liza Minnelli and good-speaking John Gielgud.
The hilarious Dudley Moore's best remembered film has him portraying the title character, an alcoholic millionaire who often acts like a child or a woman chaser in public.
Nominated for an Oscar for the film's screenplay, Gordon did a great job of combining high voltage comedy one liners with a decent human story showing the relationship between a spoiled millionaire playboy (Dudley Moore) and his butler (John Gielgud).
John Gielgud won a well deserved Oscar playing a character you would not expect him to and Moore was nominated for best actor..
We well remember viewing Mr, Dudley Moore, Miss Kiza Minelli, Sir John Gielgud and the rest of the cast going through some of the least complex, yet most pleasingly funny set of routines, all very skillfully woven into a story which we still followed as closely as was possible; while we were at the same time mesmerized by the on screen comedic antics of a character (Arthur) who can truly draw comparison to the great Silent Clowns of yesteryear; namely: Messers Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd and Langdon.ALTHOUGH THERE WERE doubtless many a moviegoer who found this funny little fellow to be "new" to the American Film scene; we in our family were fortunate to be familiar with the comic genius of Dudley Moore.
Our personal favourites are Barney Martin (Her Father), The Chaueffer Bitterman (Ted Ross), Greraldine Fitzgerald (the Millionaire Matriarch of the Bach Family) and, of course Sir John Gielgud (Hobson the Butler and Surogate Father to Arthur).THE FILM IS different and singularly excellent in script/dialog, the musical score and vocals by Christopher Cross and the complexity of the non-complex story line all add up to something that is very different.NOW WHY DID they want to go and do a remake?
Although it's most certainly politically incorrect to be entertained by a drunk, there's such a charm to Dudley Moore's portrayal of lovable lush, Arthur Bach one can't help but feel for this unique and wonderful character.
The funniest and the best movie I've ever seen with a brilliant performance put up by Dudley Moore.
Dudley Moore's performance is charming and brilliant, but the real painful stomach laughs come from Hobson, a snooty butler.
The movie whisks along and is funny and dramatic and is met with one of Burt Bacarachs finest ever scores and one of the greatest musical numbers ever written for the screen : The Best that you Can Do [Arthurs Theme] performed by Christopher cross.Thankyou Dudley Moore.
After seeing Arthur on TV numerous times I laughed so hard Dudley Moore's role as Arthur a happy go luck drunken millionaire was hysterical but John Gielgud as his servant/ father figure Hobson was equally charming.
Arthur must marry a high class girl to inherit a big fortune but he falls in love with a poor waitress Liza Minnelli (she looks really weird).This is a damn funny film.
This was a showcase film for Sir John Gielgud and Dudley Moore.
Dudley Moore stars as a lovable drunk in "Arthur," his best role of his career.
Dudley Moore sadly died in 2002 but we can remember him through watching his many memorable performances, such as "Arthur" and "Arthur 2." This film brings back memories of the heyday of comedy..
ARTHUR (1981) ***1/2  Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Barney Martin, Stephen Elliott.
Dudley Moore is SOOOO funny in this scene (and the whole movie).I still laugh out loud after seeing that scene about fifty times..
Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, and Sir John Gielgud all turn in quality performances; especially Mr. Moore, who spends the majority of the movie drunk.