Arthur (DVD 1999)

There are not many good comedies these days and 10 is both funny and well produced starring a man sadly missed who not only was funny but had a great musical talent,bring great music to the screen during the film,with a good all round sense of laughter,which is sadly lacking today,with the banal boom and bang movies which seem to prevail.

Having converted most of our old video collection to DVD I was thrilled to find this film gem in digital format as it is a much loved film of my husband's and it made a perfect birthday present.

Arthur is easily one of my favourite films of all time and I never tire of watching it.

Dudley Moore's portrayal of Arthur Bach, the hopeless, millionaire playboy drunk, in search of love, is truly endearing and no-one else could have played the part anywhere nearly as well. Moore was born to play Arthur.

Arthur is full of fun and quips, and apparently unable to take anything in life seriously, but there is also a sad intensity about him as he 'laughs his way across town', unable to find any real happiness among all his toys and a lifestyle that most would kill for.

Helping him get through it all is his loyal butler Hobson, impeccably played by John Gielgud. Hobson's sardonic wit and putdowns are simply joyous and you cherish every moment he is on screen. Gielgud's performance rightly earned him an Oscar.

Arthur's father threatens to cut him off from his £750 million inheritence if he doesn't grow up, settle down and marry Susan Johnson, the daughter from another society family. Arthur has no choice but to agree and the wedding is booked.

To drown his sorrows, Arthur goes shopping with Hobson, at which point he meets Linda Morolla, the 'nobody from Queens', the woman he is truly destined to be with. Liza Minelli's performance as Linda is as captivating as Gielgud's is as Hobson and Moore's is as Arthur. The banter between Arthur and Linda is hilarious, and Hobson is generally on hand to add to all the fun and screen magic that the movie turns out to be.

Faultless performances from the main three are also perfectly complimented by a bevvy of other characters in the film - Susan's father, Arthur's Grandmother, Linda's father, Arthur's chauffeur ... all helping to take you on a romantic jolly through the film to an ultimate climax where Arthur is at the church, due to marry Susan. While the ending may be somewhat predictable, it is gloriously played out by all involved.

Overall, Arthur is a wonderful feelgood movie which, personally, I don't think can be bettered. It's family comedy at its very best. Watch and enjoy every minute. You'll wonder where its 90 minutes went and wish that there were 90 more.

The DVD is a bit disappointing. All you really get is the movie with no extras at all.

"Arthur" is the story of rich, carefree but alcoholic playboy Arthur Bach. With nothing to do all day but cruise around in his chauffeur driven Rolls, shop and drink, he struggles to find a purpose to his life, and more importantly to find a partner in his life to share it with. At the moment he is mothered by his very English butler, Hobson (Gielgut), who tries to keep the romantic Arthur in line with a never ending series of waspish putdowns and acid comments. In order to keep his family fortune though, Arthur's family are most keen he is safely married off to beautiful socialite Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry). Unfortunately though, Arthur doesn't love Susan, he loves the streetwise shoplifter he met in downtown New York, Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli).

Minnelli and Moore play superbly off each other and the glances and expressions they throw to each other (and the camera) are a joy to watch. Gielgut is superb, with the cutting edge of a Stanley knife he steals every scene he appears in. Also well worth watching is Barney Martin as Linda's father, who has a delightfully crumply face as he breaks when he hears the millionaire Arthur won't be marrying his daughter.

This film has remained as fresh and as funny as ever. It's wonderfully innocent, crisp and funny and is extremely highly recommended.

This is a great dvd, been wanting in for a long time!
I decided to buy this because it was a great price, cheapest i have seen!
Excellent!!!

love this film i have been looking for this film for a while . a great price.................................................................

This is a fiim you can watch so many times it is ridiculous! Funnily enough, in one episode of 3rd Rock From The Sun they get this film and watch it something like 17 times, maybe more, and they all sit there looking emotionally warmed and touched. This is how you always feel with this film. The music is great, the acting superb, the script brilliant. And the ending?? PERFECT!!
What a film!! If I had another DVD player I would buy it again!
;-)

Very funny film........
This is an all time classic comedy, I hear myself saying lines forn Arthur throughout my life.
Dudley Morre is the best drunk I know

I decided to buy this DVD as it was on sale for a reasonable amount of money and the cost of packaging it out to me was a small sum compared to my full enjoyment of my favourite Dudley Moore film! so it is with my thanks and appreciation that i write this short but well ment review!. K X

This film makes me smile from beginning to end. I've worn the video out so bought the dvd in order that i can continue to enjoy it. Dudley Moore is superb and Liza Minelli and Sir John G are wonderful. If you have a sense of humour you'll love it, if you don't.. don't bother watching it. It's a gentle, light hearted, smiley movie.

This is my favourite film of all time, I wish I was arthur just living the high life and he is absolutely hillarious! and his butler is great aswell.

if you want a good laugh then this film is definatly for you - a bit of swearing but waht film hasnt? the king of comedy truly does an amazing job of the top role in this film as so do the rest of the top class cast - i have never laughed so much in my life and if your feeling a little down then you must watch this !

Seen this film many years ago and laughed until my sides hurt, this time around was no different. Anyone who has not had the pleasure of this film is missing out. Thanks to the seller........ for giving my two hours pleasure ooooo errrr

I remember going to see this film at the cinema in about 1980 with some friends. I thought it was great then, and as I now have a daughter of about the age I was then, I thought she would enjoy it too.

Dudley Moore was a great talent, and good-looking with it (she said he looked a bit like Richard Hammond)and I loved (and remembered) some of the one-liners and enjoyed them all over again. I also enjoyed John Gielgud playing a part unlike most others that he played, and of course there was rather a heart-warming story behind it all.

It was ok but very dated.I bought it because I had been to New York recently and wanted to reminded of the sites. Bad decision.

I have loved this film from the very first time i saw years ago but had never brought it. After Liza Minnelli, stange looking ex husband was on Celartiy get me out of here, i remember that i hadnt seen the film for ages, so look on ebay and found it. Recived it quckly and love watching it again.