Arthur (DVD 1999)

"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.