| Arthur | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Steve Gordon |
| Written by | Steve Gordon |
| Produced by | Robert Greenhut |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Fred Schuler |
| Edited by | Susan E. Morse |
| Music by | Burt Bacharach |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
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Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $7 million |
| Box office | $95.5 million[1] |
Arthuris a 1981 Americanromantic comedy film written and directed bySteve Gordon. It starsDudley Moore as Arthur Bach, a drunken New York City millionaire who is on the brink of anarranged marriage to a wealthy heiress but ends up falling for a common working-class young woman fromQueens. It was the sole film directed by Gordon, who died in 1982 of a heart attack at age 44.
The film earned over $95 million domestically, making it thefourth highest-grossing film of 1981. Its title song, "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)", won theAcademy Award for Best Original Song. Co-written byChristopher Cross,Burt Bacharach,Carole Bayer Sager, andPeter Allen, it was performed by Cross.Sir John Gielgud also won the Academy Award forBest Supporting Actor. It was nominated for two otherAcademy Awards forBest Actor for Moore andBest Original Screenplay for Gordon. The film's success led toa sequel in 1988 anda remake in 2011, neither of which replicated the success of the original film.
Arthur Bach is a spoiled, alcoholic man-child inNew York City, who likes to be driven in his chauffeuredRolls-Royce Silver Wraith limousine throughCentral Park. Arthur is heir to a portion of his family's vast fortune, but only if he marries theupper-class Susan Johnson, the daughter of a business acquaintance of his father. He does not love Susan, but his family feels that she will make him finally grow up. During a shopping trip inManhattan, accompanied by his valet, Hobson, Arthur witnesses a young woman, Linda Marolla,shoplifting a necktie. He intercedes with the store security guard on her behalf, and later asks her for a date. Despite his attraction to Linda, Arthur remains pressured by his family to marry Susan.
While visiting his grandmother, Martha, Arthur shares his feelings for Linda, but is warned again that he will bedisowned if he does not marry Susan. Hobson, who has been more like a father to him than Arthur's real father, realizes that Arthur is beginning to grow up, and secretly encourages Linda to attend Arthur's engagement party. Hobson confides in Linda that he senses Arthur loves her. Linda crashes the party, held at the estate of Arthur's father, and she and Arthur eventually spend time alone together, which is tracked by both families. Hobson is later hospitalized, and Arthur rushes to his side, vowing to care for the person who has long cared for him. After several weeks, Hobson dies, and then Arthur, who has been sober the entire time, goes on adrinking binge. On his wedding day, he visits thediner where Linda works and proposes to her. At the church, he jilts Susan, resulting in her father, Burt Johnson, attempting to stab Arthur with acheese knife, though he is prevented by Martha.
A wounded Arthur announces in church there will be no wedding, then passes out soon after. Later, Linda tends to his wounds, and they discuss living a life of poverty. A horrified Martha tells Arthur that he can have his fortune, because no Bach has ever beenworking class. Arthur declines, but at the last minute, he talks privately to Martha. When he returns to Linda's side, he tells her that he declined again – Martha's dinner invitation, he means – but he did accept $750 million. Arthur's pleasedchauffeur Bitterman drives the couple through Central Park.
Gordon originally wrote thetitle character with an American actor in mind. Prior to the casting of Moore,Al Pacino,Jack Nicholson,John Travolta,Richard Dreyfuss, andJames Caan were all considered for the role. In addition,Alec Guinness andDavid Niven were considered for the role of Hobson.[2][3][4]John Belushi was also considered for Arthur.[5] Initially, Gordon wanted Moore to perform the role with an American accent, but this proved contentious as Moore had trouble doing so and eventually convinced Gordon to let him use his natural English accent. While some critiques objected to the obvious difference in accent between Arthur and his biological father, others were quick to catch the deeper implication that Hobson taught Arthur to speak.[6]Debra Winger reportedly turned down the role of Linda.[7]Goldie Hawn,Diane Keaton,Gilda Radner, andMeryl Streep were also considered for the role of Linda.[8]
Although the project was initially in the works atParamount Pictures, studio executives eventually dropped the project andOrion Pictures stepped in.[6] Promoting the film proved to be a challenge; reportedly six ad campaigns were discarded before a final one was decided upon.[6]
Christopher Cross was initially asked toscore the film, but writer-director Steven Gordon did not feel comfortable with his lack of experience in composing for film and the job was given toBurt Bacharach.[9] Cross was asked to compose a song for the film which he did, "Arthur's Theme", which he wrote with Bacharach along with Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen.[9]
The film had a disappointing opening at the box office but improved its performance over its run, becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of the summer.[10] It eventually earned over $95 million domestically, making it thefourth highest-grossing film of 1981.[11]
The film received critical acclaim upon its release and is considered by many as one of the best films of 1981.[12][13][14] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 36 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Dudley Moore brings a boozy charm toArthur, a coming of age tale for a wayward millionaire that deploys energetic cast chemistry and spiffy humor to jovial effect."[15]
Then-U.S. PresidentRonald Reagan viewed this film atCamp David on July 25, 1981.[16]
The film was rankedNo. 10 onBravo's "100 Funniest Movies".
The film is recognized byAmerican Film Institute in these lists:
The film was followed by a sequel in 1988,Arthur 2: On the Rocks. Lead players Moore, Minnelli, and Gielgud reprised their roles, as well as supporting players such as Fitzgerald and Martin. The sequel was a critical and financial failure.[26][27][28]
The2011 version was first reported in 2008 with news thatArthur was to be remade byWarner Bros., withRussell Brand in the lead role.[29] Brand confirmed this during his March 10, 2009, appearance onThe Howard Stern Show. The remake was an overall critical and financial failure.[30][31]
The film had three Indian remakes: the 1984Hindi-language filmSharaabi, the 1985Kannada-language filmNee Thanda Kanike, and the 2004 HindiTumsa Nahin Dekha: A Love Story.[32]
The animated seriesThe Critic starringJon Lovitz shows a parody ofArthur calledArthur 3: Revenge of the Liver, where the character of Arthur Bach (voiced byMaurice LaMarche impersonating Dudley Moore) is shown intoxicated and is informed that he has cirrhosis of the liver.[33]
She turned down the soft female leads in hits such asRaiders of the Lost Ark andArthur.
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