It is a performances centric movie

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

I watched this film more than a fortnight ago and I was very disappointed. As soon as Arthur (Dudley Moore) is introduced on screen and laughing like an idiot, I thought here comes almost two hours of unbearable viewing. It turned out I was right. One big reason that could have led to my disappointment was my grandmother telling me that it was real funny and all that might have lead to over-hype. When it looked like doom and gloom early, I thought it might be left up to John Gielgud as Hobson to save the day. Not even he could unfortunately. It might be hard to say this, but he was the best part of the film. That is, if the film even had a best part. Liza Minelli was miscast and didn't seem interested in being in the film. Having been born in the 1990's, maybe I didn't quite get the humour. But that cant be used as an excuse as I have watched some other 80's comedies and laughed. How this film was nominated for 4 Oscars and won 2 is beyond me. The negative effects of this film are still felt today with the song, "Best That You Can Do" and will probably remain a permanent reminder of how bad this film really was.

First I am wondering how this movie has an overall 6.9 of 10 rating? Then I began reading the reviews and many of you who wrote fantastic reviews for got to select your rating. and I think if you forget to actually select the ratings number that it counts it is sort of a 0. Then I actually saw some really low reviews and I couldn't figure it out but I think that the people are younger people and don't appreciate a smart witty clean language comedy you can watch in mixed company or family. One of the reviewers even hated the film because they thought it was horrible that Auther was a drunk. They were worried about the wrong social message being sent. Now that is a younger "politically correct" person. I wish IMDb would add age group to our profiles. There were so many great movies that would no longer be made in Hollywood in this PC generation. also Alexis got a lot of bad language, sexual innuendo, low brow humor, CGI, special effects, stunts, etc. Hollywood wouldn't Produce and the current generation will not even go see something this good because I don't have any attention span. I was a sophomore in high school when this came out and I thought it was so hilarious I can't imagine any of today's 15 to 25 loving this movie. another great thing is that a lot of this movie was shot on location something that don't do as much of today due to computer graphics. But this truly was a fantastic movie. Great storyline, acting, casting, serious issues as well as humor. everyone who has given this movie a good review please go back in and make sure that you selected the star rating. I could watch this movie once every 3 months and never get tired of it. and for the life of me I have no idea why they remade this movie I'm so tired of Hollywood remaking good movies and that's all they show on the TV is the new versions instead of the original. Viewing this movie is never a waste of time. it was a long time between this movie and the sequel that didn't come out until 1988 I believe and it got bashed but the sequel wasn't really that bad but nothing is as good as the original

Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is a sloppy drunk with no ambition. He is the heir to a family fortune but his father threatens to take it away if he doesn't marry Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry). He doesn't love Susan and he's afraid of her father. His valet Hobson (John Gielgud) is his best friend and his father figure more than his actual father. While shopping at Bergdorf Goodman with Hobson, he sees Linda Morolla (Liza Minnelli) shoplifting a tie for her unemployed father's birthday. He comes to the rescue and starts to date the lowly Linda despite his engagement to Susan.This is an adorable rom-com. Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli have never been more cute together as a couple. The rom-com formula works so well because the two of them have great chemistry. John Gielgud is also just so terrific.

The first time I happened to see this was on my honeymoon, it was the in flight movie as we were flying home from a wonderful trip. It was a absolutely perfect movie to enjoy at such a time, along with numerous glasses of champagne. Of course you missed quite a bit viewing in-flight movies back then but I've caught up with "Arthur" many times since via cable or rentals and I never fail to laugh. Just a wonderful script and direction by Steve Gordon, it's a shame he passed away shortly after this. While John Gielgud's superb performance as Hobson gained an Oscar, this film was going to either soar or crash on Dudley Moore's performance as Arthur. It's not easy to make a spoiled and perpetually sloshed playboy into a lovable character, but Dudley pulls it off. I've never been a big fan of Liza Minnelli. but she is also terrific as Linda, the waitress from Queens that Arthur falls in love with. Some other fine performances, such as Ted Ross as Bittermann, Arthur's chauffeur and Anne De Salvo, who has a hilarious bit as a hooker who Arthur entertains at a ritzy NYC restaurant.To those who dislike this because it makes alcoholism seem funny and cute...lighten up, it's only a movie. Hollywood has a tradition in making drunks seem lovable. Just as they do with prostitutes. As a PS, still married to the lovely lady 33 years later. Best that you can do is fall in love.