Movie Monday April 23: Arthur (1981)

My pick this week is Arthur (1981), a classic screwball rom-com that I hadn’t seen until recently. A friend of mine hosts a movie night for under-appreciated or overlooked films, both the good and the bad. Arthur is most definitely on the good side, even after over 40 years.

**Warning, mild spoilers ahead, so if you haven’t watched the movie yet, what are you doing?**

Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) needs to grow up. He spends his time and copious amounts of money getting drunk, being chauffeured through Central Park in a Rolls-Royce, and debauching in and around New York City. His family decides to force him to marry socialite Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry) in order to receive his inheritance of $750 billion. He is resigned to do so, but after a chance meeting with working-class Linda (Liza Minnelli) he wavers. They spend time together and Arthur slowly begins to fall for her. Through threat of disownment, Arthur breaks it off with Linda and proceeds with his engagement. Hobson (John Gielgud), Arthur’s lifelong butler and only real friend, sees that he has started to grow up because of Linda. He tells her that Arthur loves her and encourages her to crash the engagement party. There, Linda and Arthur spend some alone time together, but are interrupted by Susan with the message that Hobson has been hospitalized. Arthur spends several weeks caring for Hobson, sobering up in the process. After Hobson dies, however, Arthur goes on a bender. On his wedding day he goes to see Linda at the diner where she works. He professes his love for her and proposes. At the church, he jilts Susan, which causes her father (Stephen Elliott) to attack Arthur with a cheese knife. Martha (Geraldine Fitzgerald), stops this and tells Arthur that no Bach has ever or will ever be working class. Arthur, though initially fine with living a normal life with Linda, relents and accepts the inheritance.

So What Did I Think?

Arthur is a bit of a strange comedy. There are lots of sweet and emotional moments, including the very sad sequence leading up to and after Hobson’s death. Still, the comedy has aged pretty well, especially with Dudley Moore’s delivery. He makes Arthur’s man child nature endearing rather than annoying and it’s satisfying when he starts to grow up. The film is a coming of age story, which might seem odd since the lead is 46, but the stunted maturity and childlike innocence make sense as the story goes on. If most people were as rich as Arthur was without lifting a finger, who knows what kind of bad behavior they’d get up to.

The plot set up is pretty straightforward, so it’s the chemistry between all the actors that really make the story. Liza Minnelli is effortlessly funny and Sir John Gielgud’s Hobson is my favorite character. The combination of over the top ridiculousness and deadpan humor is an odd combination and often not done well, but in this instance it’s perfect for the characters. Both Minnelli and Gielgud trade off as the straight man to Moore’s lovable buffoon, but to different effects. Linda has more back and forth banter, with she and Arthur playing off one another in sync. Hobson is full of sassy one liners and commentary and is one of the few people who accepts Arthur for every part of him.

I genuinely loved this movie and a lot of people agree that it’s one of the best ‘80s romantic comedies. It also won two Academy Awards, Best Original Song and Best Supporting Actor. Of course it was Sir John Gielgud’s performance that won; he was truly outstanding in a cast that ranged from exceptional to mediocre. The song, “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do)”, was one I’d actually heard before. I didn’t know it was from the movie since it found success as much more than part of a film soundtrack. 

One moment that I love:

A small but illuminating moment that characterizes the relationship between Arthur and Hobson comes early in the film. Arthur goes to meet with his father at his office. While there, a random man questions Arthur’s abilities and alcoholism. Hobson agrees with him that it’s a bit ridiculous that Arthur gets to inherit so much without doing anything, but then the next second tells the man to shut up. This shows that he’s not blinded to Arthur’s faults and rather than be a blind follower and enabler, he’s just looking out for Arthur’s well being.

One moment that made me laugh:

Liza Minnelli’s first scene as Linda. After she gets caught shoplifting, a security guard begins to question her. Without missing a beat, she questions him right back and keeps asking for his name and address as if he’s the one in trouble. Her delivery here and when Arthur gets involved with the confrontation shows just how good Minnelli’s instincts are as an actor. Her timing throughout the movie is impeccable, but in this first scene she really shines.

I’d give Arthur 9 bathtub martinis out of 10.