Arthur (1981 film)

Arthur Bach is a charming but irresponsible heir to a vast fortune, whose life revolves around drinking and frivolity. His family pressures him into an arranged marriage with Susan Johnson, a wealthy socialite, to preserve the family business. However, Arthur falls for Linda Marolla, a working-class waitress from Queens, and must decide between his inheritance and true love. The film was directed by Steve Gordon, his directorial debut, and was shot on location in New York City, including scenes at the Plaza Hotel and Central Park.¹

Dudley Moore delivers a career-defining performance as Arthur, blending wit and vulnerability. Liza Minnelli plays Linda, the love interest, while John Gielgud portrays Hobson, Arthur's sharp-tongued but devoted butler, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role. The cast also includes Geraldine Fitzgerald as Arthur's mother, and Jill Eikenberry as Susan.

Arthur was a box office hit, grossing over $95 million in the United States, and received positive reviews from critics, who praised Moore's performance and the film's blend of comedy and heart. It received two Academy Award nominations, winning one for John Gielgud and one for the song "Arthur's Theme". The film has since become a classic of the genre, and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2014.²

Steve Gordon wrote the screenplay in just three weeks, and the role of Arthur was originally offered to Richard Dreyfuss and Jack Nicholson before Moore was cast. The film's theme song, performed by Christopher Cross, was co-written by Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen, and became a number-one hit. A sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, was released in 1988, and a remake starring Russell Brand followed in 2011, but neither matched the original's success.³

National Film Registry

A list of films deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, maintained by the U.S. Library of Congress.

Arranged marriage

A marriage planned by the families of the bride and groom, often for social or economic reasons.