Arthur the movie

[quote] I was seriously depressed for weeks after seeing this movie.

If 'Arthur' did this to you, you have much bigger problems. I say that seriously - go talk to someone. A goofy movie from the 80s should not impact you this much.

R1 I agree I was definitely going through some stuff then and I was able to get through it. I picked it because I thought my comment he would cheer me up. The person that I watched it with was perfectly fine and agreed it was the least funny movie ever made. But seriously wondering how is this a comedy? Maybe for the Lifetime crowd.

Was Liza ever considered desirable? Or was this stunt casting because of her mom? Or both?

I picked it because I thought a *comedy would cheer me up

Didn't you at least like the scene when Liza got out of the Rolls and said "Well, hello Mrs. Nesbitt!"

Liza was hilarious in this.

I think the dialogue is funny and the movie isn't. He's extremely fucked up, she's presented as damaged, neither one of them is a prize. The scene where Gielgud's character (on his deathbed) admits: "Arthur, I'm afraid" was extremely unfunny and was intended as such.

I can't imagine this movie being made today.

It was remade a few years ago.

R8 I’m pretty sure it bombed. I think they try to make it slapstick with the marginally talented Russell Brandt.

They initially wanted JOHN TRAVOLTA for the part of Arthur.

If the original made you feel depressed OP, don't watch the remake. That will make you slit your wrists.

It has one of my all time favorite lines - "I'll alert the media"

It’s a black comedy. A type of humor that pokes fun at serious, depressing, or taboo subject matter. It’s not meant for sensitive people and there are many who don’t like that type of humor. To each their own.

Another example of black comedy is Dr. Strangelove or: How to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.

R12 I’ll alert the media is funny. Gielgud deserved the Oscar just for that line. Moore deserved his nomination because it’s no small feat acting drunk. Love Geraldine Fitzgerald in this too. However the movie is poorly written and silly.

r14 Moore had considerable experience being drunk in real life. His authentic portrayal of a drunk was not a huge stretch for him. Great movie though.

R15 I thought that the disease that eventually killed him made him act as if her was drunk? Or was that just PR and he was an alcoholic as well?

R13 Thank you. I am usually am not sensitive and loved Heathers even as a young teen. But not sure that’s the same type of black comedy this is . You make a very good point. But then again in Heathers there’s really no one you’re rooting for except for Veronica. And the priest who played Otho in Beetlejuice. Come to think of it that’s the only black comedy I can think of seeing. I can see your point

You can't explain comedy. You either find it funny or you don't. There's nothing wrong either way.

Usually one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of her stature.

"Perhaps you would like me to wash your dick for you... you little shit."

Remembered how popular it was when it was out, it was probably the best-known Liza vehicle for a time. Anyway, finally rented it from Netflix around 10 years ago. It had not worn well, hard to see what the fuss was about.

Liza’s performance was comedy gold and in a just world would have received an Oscar nomination. “I’ll be with ya in a minute.” Gold!

This is a funny scene.

I remember that when it came out Liza was already a bit of a has-been.

I loved the line “Not all of us who drink are poets. Some of us drink because we're not poets.”

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. A true classic. I also love vintage cars so this film was also a feast for the eyes.

I think the only weak link for me was Liza. The dialogue (when he meets her at Bergdorf's) Arthur recites about her being this fabulous woman just didn't ring true, for me anyway She looked incredibly average and her screaming at the store detective shouldn't have induced such an orgasmic response from him.

I had no issues with the supposed depressing subject matter because this comedy had a story and by the end of the story the protagonist had finally grown up. The End.

She looked mildly cute at best. More like the ugly friend to the main character by more modern standards. Not sure why Liza was cast

For as much as the late Ann Romano gets for her looks, is this considered better?

Wasn't Dudley Moore nominated for an Oscar?

There were quite a lot of funny lines, at least for the first hour or so, but the film has a very dark world view. Everyone in the film is lonely or damaged. I mean one of the first scenes is Arthur having dinner with a street hoor and hearing about her genuinely shitty life, which was the filmmakers telling us not to have any pity for Arthur, who has it SO much better than most people even if he's made a mess of his life.

But I do love a good dark comedy, like "Kind Hearts and Coronets", a lovely British film about multiple murders, or "Harold and Maude", an absolutely great and hilarious film about suicide, or "Ruthless People" or "Serial Mom", or even "Sean of the Dead". It's a pity so few dark comedies are made these days.

Ruthless People is rather sunny compared to the others listed above, including Arthur.

Wasn't Gielgud's (Hobson's?) line "I'll alert the media," in response to something totally prosaic, like Arthur announcing an intention to take a bath, or something?

Love Serial Mom. Sean of the Dead is underrated and amazing. Also an early commentary about how we are zombies glued to our phones

Yes r29, Dudley Moore was nominated for Best Actor. The nominees that year:

Warren Beatty – Reds

Henry Fonda – On Golden Pond (WINNER)

Burt Lancaster – Atlantic City

Dudley Moore – Arthur

Paul Newman – Absence of Malice

I thought Liza and Dudley had great chemistry. But then again, I found Dudley always had great chemistry with his co-stars.

I think it's a funny comedy. It's like a throwback to comedies if the 1930s. Moore and Minelli are great, as is Guilgud, and the theme is very nostalgic of the early 80s period.

Loved the theme song.

OP, it was a comedy for adults. A movie genre that is lost to contemporary retarded audiences. Your loss. Watch an Avenger movie.

R37. Here here.

R1, I agree.

"Good luck in prison."

"Susan, you're such an asshole."

"ahahahahah" (Liza's dad overhearing the check amount Arthur wants to give her)

I love the line (paraphrasing), My father died at 5 and I was raped at 10....... So you had 5 relatively good years?

The film was unique and perfectly performed by the leads. Moore and Minnelli were both spot on for the screenplay - if you ask me (and who would LOL). The subject matter failed to be funny years later (the sequel was a dud - not really due to it being a bad film, but the social climate and aptitude had done a 180 by then...). Both films were a bit before my time. I really enjoy this movie (I first saw it maybe 15 years ago), whatever the case.. 10 is also an odd film for most now, but was a huge hit in its day. Moore films were certainly one-of-a-kind if nothing else. I enjoy them while also finding them very bizarre.

It's a dark comedy about rich, white people's problems.

[R43] The race component was unnecessary in that sentence, rich black people also exist and have issues.

FFS, I've been here for years and every now and again I still put brackets around reply numbers like an 'effing noob...

PERRY & SCREAMING WIFE

[quote] [[R43]] The race component was unnecessary in that sentence, rich black people also exist and have issues.

The movie we are discussing wasn't about rich, black people though, was it?

And neither was it specifically about rich white people, race was not a key component of the script was it R47?

It was dark humor OP. And IMO one of the best movies of the day. I loved it then, and I love it now. I pulled out my copy a few weeks ago and watched it again. John Gielgud had some hilarious lines

Hobson: Normally, someone would have to go to a bowling alley to meet someone of your stature.

Arthur: Do you know what I'm going to do? I'm going to take a bath. Hobson: I'll alert the media.

Arthur: Do you want to run my bath for me? Hobson: It's what I live for. Hobson: Perhaps you would like me to wash your dick for you... you little shit.

Arthur: A hot bath is Wonderful... Girls are WONDERFUL! Hobson: Yes, imagine how wonderful a girl who bathes would be... Get dressed.

Hobson: Good afternoon. If you and your undershirt will take two paces backwards, I could enter this dwelling.

Executive: He gets all that money. Pays his family back by... by... by bein' a stinkin' drunk. It's enough ta make ya sick. Hobson: I really wouldn't know, sir. I'm just a servant. Executive: Yeah. Hobson: On the other hand, go screw yourself.

Arthur: Hobson, do you know what the worst thing is about being me? Hobson: I should imagine your breath.

Linda: Oh, I have plans for tonight. What should I wear? Hobson: Steal something casual.

Hobson: Poor people are not loved, Arthur. They urinate in public and have very few teeth.

Hobson: I've taken the liberty of anticipating your condition. I have brought you orange juice, coffee, and aspirins. Or do you need to throw up?

Hobson: You spoiled little bastard! You're a man who has everything, haven't you, but that's not enough. You feel unloved, Arthur, welcome to the world. Everyone is unloved. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself. And incidentally, I love you.

God I hate the way DL formats text quotes.

One of my favorite scenes (sorry I can't find a longer version). It anticipated Up's "Squirrel!"

Loved this movie as a kid with cable in the early 80s. Who are these adults who don't nderstand the humor?

Then again, I always find the humor in sadness.

"Arthur" & "Author Author", the 2 best 80s 'New York City movies' made.

Arthur is brilliantly written, with genuinely witty dialogue and a touching story with depth. Yes, the film's protagonists are damaged people, who come together and are better for it. That makes it a comedy that stays with you, rather than being a trifle. Whoever compared it to Harold and Maude was spot on.

Sorry you found it crushingly depressing, OP, but that says more about you than about the film.

I'll alert the media.

[quote] And neither was it specifically about rich white people, race was not a key component of the script was it [R47]?

Where were the rich black people then? The cast made it specifically white. Diversity casting wasn't a thing until recently.

R30, another of my favorite black comedies was “Drowning Mona”. I’m struggling to think of anything past that.

Gielgud was funny. Liza was likable. Moore had trouble making a sad character seem funny and the whole thing seemed a bit slack. The theme song was just annoying.

It's one of my favorite movies.(I like it for the odd friendship, and the wrong side of the tracks romance and some of the funniest jokes in movies) Try it again in a few years. Abfab is one of my favorites too, for it's party humor, but if I'm not in the mood it bothers me, and I turn it off so not to ruin it for myself. So try it again in happier times.

This came out when I was a kid. There seemed to be this fascination with zany but miserable millionaires around that time ( “Trading Places”, “Brewster’s Millions”, “All of Me”), millionaires adopting kids (“Annie”, “Diff’rent Strokes”) and then millionaire kids (“Silver Spoons” “Richie Rich” “The Toy”). And then the nighttime soaps on TV.

My friend and I would respond to any request with “shall I wash your dick for you, too?” That was our big takeaway from the movie at the time.

[quote]Good afternoon. If you and your undershirt will take two paces backwards, I could enter this dwelling.

One of my favorite lines from this movie and I still use it today.

Thanks for those R49.

[quote]I was seriously depressed for weeks after seeing this movie.

[quote]If 'Arthur' did this to you, you have much bigger problems. I say that seriously - go talk to someone. A goofy movie from the 80s should not impact you this much.

Pussy

[quote]Liza was likable.

She gets a shit ton of flack because of her history but she delivered the goods when she had to. Everyone rails on her cameo in SATC 2 but I thought she pulled it off.

"Whoever compared it to Harold and Maude was spot on. "

That was me, and "Harold and Maude" is a better film, funnier than "Arthur" but profound as well as hilarious. IMHO it ought to be up at the top of the AFI Greatest Films Ever Made lists.

As for the "miserable millionaire" movies of the 1980s, you'd think they'd make a comeback. That was the era of the Yuppie Scum, "Greed is Good", and Donald Trump, just like today. You'd think they'd start remaking the whole genre, it fits the current zeitgeist.

I typically don't find movie drunks (or any drunks) funny, so the central character felt sadder and more off-putting to me than comic per se. Gielgud made the movie for me--I imagine it was far from a challenge to him as an actor, but his natural talents made it seem like the height of wit, and the occasional moments when he was serious (and frightened, when facing death) gave the movie a kind of grounding--and also allowed Moore's Arthur to grow up a little. Minnelli seemed to me to throw the balance off the film (too big a star for the role), but I thought she acquitted herself well--she showed a likability to a character who might otherwise have seemed simply dishonest and crass. I thought the supporting roles were nicely done with the exception of poor Geraldine Fitzgerald, whose role was that of a mean rich woman in mid-stage dementia--never a laugh riot, even though she was a wonderful actress. I couldn't get through the sequel and didn't bother with the remake. I can enjoy Russell Brandt in small doses and while I love Helen Mirren, Hobson needs to be a "bachelor" manservant for the story to work, IMO.

What happened to Brand? They tried forcing him on America but I haven’t seen him in a while.

Harold and Maude has been on Pluto TV several times a week for the last few weeks. I adore Ruth Gordon.

It is a wonderful, heartwarming, classic movie. About alcoholism. It either hits the funny bone or not.

Whooshing sound as the point whizzes straight past slow R56.

Geraldine Fitzgerald in her most famous role in "Dark Victory".

Never knew if she was one of those actresses that Bette hated or liked.

[quote]She looked mildly cute at best. More like the ugly friend to the main character by more modern standards. Not sure why Liza was cast

Dudley Moore was no prize himself

Poor Dudley had a rough time of it at the end of his life.

I saw them filming several scenes. Saw Dudley Moore, Liza and Sir John on 5th Avenue and 59th (right after she stole the tie) and saw Geraldine Fitzgerald at the church scene.

I always thought the point was that Arthur really fell hard for Linda (Liza), so *he* thought she was beautiful. She wasn't supposed to be gorgeous to anybody but him.

I think Fitzgerald was one of the few actresses Davis admired and liked as a friend.