Arthur (1981)

Rating - 9 stars

This movie is still one of the funniest movies ever and with the most memorable, repeatable lines. It is a family favorite and has been for all these years. September 23, 2008

Comical and Touching

4 1/2 stars would be more accurate. While many comedies revolve around the cruel ridicule of certain parties, this is a MAJOR exception. We meet the millionaire Dudley Moore who seems to be a heavy drinker. But is he a drinker by nature? Perhaps not. Dudley's father is forcing him to marry a girl (Susan) he doesn't love under threats of disinheriting him. Later, Dudley meets the poor (but really likable) Linda. While Dudley Moore (Arthur) seems to know that there are some things that money can not buy, he is realizing that he may seem to know real love. In his small role, Linda's father is really memorable in the way how he goes from being suspicious of Linda's dating life to cheering it on. But is he really greedy for money? Perhaps he doesn't want to think of his daughter being destitute after he is gone. While Arthur really loves Linda, he is also afraid of being disinherited and has to make a choice between love (Linda) and financial security (Susan). Geraldine Fitzgerald tries to make the choice easy for him: "Marry Susan and cheat with Linda." But Arthur can't do that. The character who really steals the movie is John Gielgud has Arthur's servant. At first, he seems to abhor Arthur for his heavy drinking and absorption in his own world. (Much like a father would be annoyed with his son at a young age.) One of Gielgud's most memorable lines is: "Arthur, if you feel unloved, welcome to the world..." But is Gielgud so unfeeling? Realizing that he may not be around much longer, he goes to Linda on Arthur's behalf. The most poignant thing about this movie is that Gielgud (Arthur's father figure) explains to Linda that he is in poor health, and he asks her to take over his responsibilities. The most memorable thing about this movie is its wonderfully portrayed scenario of the transition one goes through from the love a 'father' has for him to the love his 'spouse' has for him. I don't want to ruin the end for those of you who haven't seen it, but there is an interesting mixture of suspense, menace, comedy, and a happy ending. My only complaint (and why I am deducting 1/2 star) is that it seems strange that Arthur is under the threat of being poor. Granted, $750,000,000. is a big inheritence. But, he must have had some small fortune in his own right. But that said, this is a wonderful, beautiful, and poignant movie. Highly suggested! June 9, 2008

"Tell her Chief Inspector Flanigan from Homicide is here. That'll get her down in a hurry!"

DIALOGUE QUOTED

The late, great comedic genius Dudley Moore does a star turn as Arthur Bach the lovable lush in this 1981 comedy also starring Liza Minnelli as the love of his life, Linda Marola, and Sir John Gielgud as Hobson, his snooty but faithful manservant.

ARTHUR could not have been made today. His incessant drinking, comic then, would be considered so Politically Incorrect today that nobody would want to touch it---the sequel, ARTHUR 2: ON THE ROCKS, released a bare two years later, was already being criticized as too flippant in its treatment of alcoholism. So went the Reagan Revolution.

Regardless of the political climate, ARTHUR is a funny film. The witty by-play between the two Englishmen, Moore and Gielgud, is so dry snd razor sharp it has yet to dull after twenty seven years and countless viewings. Moore described their dialogue as "the give-and-take between two RAF pilots during the War," and that is as accurate a description as can be found anywhere---

"Hobson?"
"Yes, Arthur?"
"Do you know what I'm going to do?"
"No, I don't."
"I'm going to take a bath."
"I'll alert the media."

***

"Arthur, I see no reason to continue this conversation [with Linda Marola]; that is, unless you're planning to knock over a fruit stand later on this evening."

***

Linda [To Arthur]: "What should I wear?"
Hobson: "Steal something casual."

***

Bert Johnson [Athur's father-in-law-to-be]: "I protect what's mine. And I do it in an ugly way."
Arthur: "Um...I can see that."
Bert Johnson: "I killed a man when I was eleven years old."
Arthur: "When you're that age I bet you don't even know there's a law against that."
Bert Johnson: "He was hungry. He came into our house. To steal our food."
Arthur [waving a hand]: "Oh. Well, he was just asking for it."
Bert Johnson: "I took a knife. And I stabbed him in the kitchen."
Arthur [horrified]: "I guess your family ate out that night...what...with that man... lying there on the...floor."

***

Perry's Wife [screaming]: "WHAT DO YOU WANT???????
Arthur [startled almost sober]: Yaaahhh! I was looking for Linda I hope this is the wrong house excuse me!
Perry's Wife [screaming]: "MY HUSBAND HAS A GUN!!!!!!!"
Arthur: "I'm sure he does, Madame. For all I know, he probably shot it while you were shouting."

---and so on. ARTHUR contains some of the funniest and most memorable one-liners ever written for the screen, and the dichotomy between Arthur's stuffy Old Money family, the gentle Arthur, and the solid working class Linda is riotous. When viewing ARTHUR, I am always surprised at how fast this film moves along, the hallmark of an enjoyable experience.

With nary a slow spot, ARTHUR is guaranteed to entertain. May 30, 2008

good movie

this was a pretty good movie. it was entertaining. dudley moore was pretty fun in this movie. it was good. May 25, 2008

Best Video Ever

This has to be probably THE best ever movie created. Hilarious. Dudley Moore shines as the booze laden, pampered, vastly wealthy heir to the family fortune being forced into marrying a woman he doesn't love lest he lose the entire aforementioned fortune. Liza Minelli is wonderful as the lower class love interest and her father is just brilliant in his string vest! And of course Sir John Gielgud reigns supreme as the posh butler whose love for Arthur ultimately sobers the spoiled brat. Classic lines "Waiter I'll have another drink. Would you like another fish?" that will stay with you forever. Could watch this again and again.

My husband laughs insanely at this film, then spends the remainder of the week quoting various lines at me. It's fun for the whole family, no X-rated words, no sexy scenes, no violence - a great, fun caper. April 29, 2008

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