Arthur (1981)

Susan: A real woman could stop you from drinking.
Arthur: It’d have to be a real BIG woman.

John Gielgud is still the best part of this problematic comedy.

Arthur (Dudley Moore) is worth $750 million.  He leads an irresponsible reckless existence fueled by constant alcohol consumption.  One of his hobbies is driving race cars, which like his own car, he drives while he is actually drinking.  Unlike most drunks, he is funny when he drinks.  His butler Mr. Hobson (Gielgud) has raised him, loves him, but barely tolerates his antics.

One day, Arthur runs into Linda (Liza Minnelli) while she is in the process of shoplifting a tie.  They hit it off immediately.  Unfortunately, Arthur is engaged to the truly horrible Susan, whom he must marry or be cut off by the family.

Arthur falls in love, for the first time, with Linda.  Now he has to decide between money and romance.  Or does he?  We also get some heartwarming moments by the end.

I didn’t care for this on original release and I didn’t like it much now.  Regular readers have heard me spout off about my hatred for “comic drunk” characters and this movie is pretty much only that.  Moore is funny.  I think he would have been funnier had he merely been an eccentric.  The humor provided from the Gielgud character is pretty juvenile but so expertly delivered that one doesn’t mind.

The film won Academy Awards in the categories of  Best Supporting Actor and Best Original Song.  The film was nominated in the categories of Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay.  It was a box office smash.

Actual theme song

I’m with Gene again