Arthur
|
List Price: Our Price: $5.13 You Save: $7.84 (60%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.99 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Arthur
Movie Review: Screwball Comedy at its Best
Summary: 5 Stars
When Arthur came out in 1981, I thought the trailers looked stupid. But I finally broke down and saw the film. I was not in the best of moods walking into the theatre but was smiling from ear to ear walking out. This is one of the funniest films ever.
Arthur Bock (Dudley Moore) is the quintessential spoiled second generation millionaire. He has never had to work a day in his life. He has his own penthouse suite complete with running trains and butler. Arthur's favorite pastime is getting drunk and embarrassing the upper-class.
We first see Arthur as he is being chauffeured through the red light district. He picks up a profession (her friend gets $50 for coming in second). He takes her to a fancy restaurant, saying she is a princess from a small country (so small that last year the recarpeted the entire country!). The next morning enter Hobson (John Gielguld), an acerbic British butler. He has the perfect one line response to any situation.
Arthur is summoned by his father. The edict is given that Arthur must marry the daughter of dad's business rival or be cut off from his inheritance. Arthur's answer to that is to go shopping and spend more of dad's money. There he spies a quirky shoplifter, Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli). Something about her interests Arthur and he pursues her.
Eventually, reality wins out and Arthur must come to terms with his pending nuptials. Now this leads to the funniest scenes of the film. First is when Hobson realizes that Arthur really loves Linda and goes to her apartment to tell to go to the engagement party. (Best Line: "Please get me two aspirin. You will find them on the second shelf of the medicine cabinet behind the unused shave cream.") Next is when Linda shows up at the engagement party. (Best Line: "I was in the neighborhood, it took two taxi's, a bus and a train. But I was in the neighborhood") Finally, is the wedding that completely falls apart.
This was one of the best written comedies with one liners that are still being repeated. Dudley Moore gives his best performance ever. Unfortunately, it was too good and most people thought that he was like Arthur. Liza showed she inherited her mother's comic timing. But the film was stolen by John Gielguld. Gielguld deservedly won an Oscar for his perfect performance. Also notable is Ted Ross (Tony winner as the Cowardly Lion in The Wiz) as the chauffer and Geraldine Fitzgerald as Arthur's hard as nails grandmother. Oh and don't forget the great theme song!!
The only negative of the DVD is it is only available in full frame.
Movie Review: Irresistible and utterly unforgettable; a comedy for the ages...
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those surprisingly delightful films that rarely gets the attention it deserves yet for some reason got that attention. Watching the movie I was floored at the fact that it won two Oscars and was nominated for more. It just does not feel like an Academy movie at all, with over the top yet resoundingly sincere performances that just don't seem like the type the Academy would recognize, and yet Dudley Moore found himself an Oscar nominee and John Gielgud actually WON the Oscar.
The film is an entertaining little comedy about a rich young heir named Arthur who falls in love with a struggling actress named Linda. She loves him despite his money, but his father is adamant that he marry another woman. With the threat of losing his money, Arthur relies on his trusty butler to help him make the right decisions and ultimately `get the girl'.
It's a feel good movie, nothing more nothing less.
That doesn't overshadow the fact that it is a wonderful movie. Just because it isn't as deep as you may want your Oscar fare to be doesn't mean that it isn't worthy of all the praise and adoration it has received. It is wonderfully constructed, wildly entertaining and is memorable to boot. You could watch this movie over and over and never tire of it; that is for sure.
The acting is also a nice touch. John Gielgud is the standout, and the Oscar he has proves that. He is witty and sharp and heart touching to boot. Dudley Moore, in my opinion, also should have won the Oscar. Sure he was up against dramatic heavy weights like Warren Beatty and Henry Fonda but seriously, his pitch perfect comedic timing is flawless and needed to be recognized. He plays the majority of the film drunk yet he never lapses into mediocre repetition but is constantly fresh and his performance is beyond rewarding. Liza Minnelli is decent here, but she falls to the wayside when you consider her leading man. Still, she has talent and that charismatic touch that elevates her performance.
It's witty, charming, touching and most importantly unforgettable. It's a surefire comedy that you will enjoy and can enjoy again and again.
Movie Review: Funny, Charming, Witty, and Wonderful
Summary: 5 Stars
Nope, I'm not talking merely about Arthur, the hapless drunk millionaire playboy played so perfectly by Dudley Moore, but ARTHUR, the wonderful 1981 film directed by Steve Gordon. Although I eventually got tired of hearing the overplayed "Arthur's Theme" on the radio back in the early '80's, I really have not tired of watching this movie. It has aged surprisingly well for a film that makes such good use of the New York City locations that existed at that time (not to mention the quaint old taxicabs). This is a film with a basic romantic plot that deals primarily with how love wins over money; however, this film never takes its own plot too seriously. Instead, it has much more fun with the assorted *characters*, like Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore), Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli), the wisecracking butler Hobson (hilariously played by the wonderful Sir John Gielgud, who deservedly won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this), Arthur's dominating mother Martha Bach (Geraldine Fitzgerald), Arthur's WASP-y bride-to-be Susan Johnson (a pre-L.A. Law Jill Eikenberry), Susan's brutish father Burt Johnson (Stephen Elliott), and, of course, Bitterman, Arthur's Chauffer (Ted Ross, in a much better role than the Cowardly Lion he played in the big-budget 1978 misfire THE WIZ). Some of dialogue is classic, especially between Arthur and Hobson! Also, this is arguably the last great movie that Liza has ever starred in.ARTHUR is one of the great comedies that most of the family can enjoy. However, it's not really for kids under age 10, as the language is fairly racy and major plot points involve prostitutes, shoplifting, and in the case of the perpetually inebriated Arthur, alcoholism. In fact, when it was released, many people criticized this film for turning alcoholism into one big running joke, as well as glamorizing it. This is what prompted the much-later sequel, ARTHUR 2: ON THE ROCKS, in which Arthur finally gets to experience the dark side of his habit. Despite its sober theme, it was actually quite funny in its own right. Still, the original is better, and is one of the great films of the 1980's. MOST RECOMMENDED
Movie Review: Wholly Moses! Dudley wins an Academy Award for this film!
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the 70's,British-born Dudley Moore was little known to the American public even when he supported Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in the 1978 Paramount film FOUL PLAY. The following year,he co-starred with Bo Derek in "10",which was his first starring American film. The disappointing WHOLLY MOSES followed in 1980. That same year,Moore did this film with Liza Minelli,daughter of the late Judy Garland. It was filmed in New York City and was theatrically released in July 1981. Moore won a Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Arthur Bach,a drunk millionaire who goes broke. Arthur is engaged to Susan Johnson(pre-L.A. Law Jill Eikenberry) but the engagement is broken and Arthur's money is taken away by Susan's father. In one of the first scenes,Arthur spends the night at his apartment with a hooker named Gloria. Then Arthur meets Linda,a diner waitress(Minelli) in a department store where she is shoplifting. Arthur and Linda hook up immediately. But the wedding between Arthur and Susan almost happened. Susan was dressed in her wedding gown and Arthur tells her at the very last minute that he's in love with Linda. Susan's father enters the chapel and beats the crap out of Arthur. The movie soundtrack album has been long out-of-print(it was never re-issued on CD). It features ARTHUR'S THEME(Best That You Can Do) performed by Christopher Cross. That song is available on some CD compilations and was one of 1981's top hits. For the next eleven years,Moore relentlessly made movies such as SIX WEEKS with Mary Tyler Moore,UNFAITHFULLY YOURS,BEST DEFENSE with Eddie Murphy,LIKE FATHER LIKE SON with Kirk Cameron,LOVESICK with Elizabeth McGovern,MICKI & MAUDE with Amy Irving and Ann Reinking,CRAZY PEOPLE with Daryl Hannah,BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY and of course,ARTHUR 2:ON THE ROCKS with Minnelli. ARTHUR 2 was theatrically released in 1988 and wasn't as successful as the first film. Sadly,Dudley passed away in March 2002 of complications from diabetes. He was 66. I dedicate this film to his memory. Also in ARTHUR 2,Cynthia Sikes resumed the role of Susan Johnson since Eikenberry was immersed in L.A. LAW.Movie Review: It just doesn't get any better than this-
Summary: 5 Stars
This has been one of my favorite movies for a long time. Recently I was happy to see it on DVD which is a relief from watching the old, grainy VHS versions.
I hadn't seen it in years and watched it today to find myself amazed at how well the movie stands up to time. It's one of those rare, perfect storms of comedy where great writing (truly funny line after truly funny line) is paired with great direction and outstanding performances all at the same time.
Dudley Moore got an Oscar nomination for "Arthur" but lost (although John Gielgud won for best supporting actor). If Moore's performance in "Arthur" doesn't win a Best Actor Oscar -it's proof that no comedic actor could ever win the title (another example is Gene Wilder in "Young Frankenstein").
Steve Gordon crafts the film beautifully keeping true to each of the characters and the warm-hearted tone of the story. Quite simply, IMHO the movie is a rare gem. It's only sad that Steve Gordon passed away just a year after "Arthur" was released.
Regarding the DVD, it's so/so. Although the video quality is a leap over the old VHS copies, there is still no widescreen version available.
The DVD has a few extras that are nice but it's just not enough. One example is commentary from the Director stating how he greatly wished how certain deleted takes and scenes could have been included (because they were hysterical), but that he had to make tough choices for a final edit. The DVD, being the perfect format to include such material, certainly should have offered it as well.
This, the original "Arthur", is a classic comedy that is one for the books.