Arthur [DVD] [1981]

Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is an undeservedly rich man and spends most of his time dreadfully drunk. His story stems from the $750 million inheritance he is due but only if he agrees to marry the dull and dismal Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry). Before he can say I do the women of his dreams turns up, Linda Marolla (Liza Minelli). A chance meeting between them sends Arthur's plans to be rich and drunk forever into chaos as he attempts to get what he wants, while completely inebriated.

Dudley Moore connects us to Arthur as we laugh at his antics and hope for his happiness and realisation that life isn't all fun and games. Luckily we have a character on our side, the wonderful John Gielgud plays Hobson who first appears to be as snobbish as any of Arthur's family, until we realise that he's the closest friend or person Arthur has in his life. Gielgud is certainly worthy of his academy award for this role. Liza Minelli is believable as the waitress/actress who can assume any persona in certain situations as we find out. Her father Ralph also takes some of the best lines.

Dudley Moore is all about the visual jokes and general slurs falling about as a drunk and having hilarious lines which no truly drunk person would be capable of coming up with and yet it seems to be genuine to his character. Sometimes a laugh is enough to make us laugh and that's certainly the case with Arthur's tremendously manic cackle at everything happening while he's in a stupor. The best lines are delivered soberly and brilliantly by Hobson, he

Particularly brilliant writing occurs when Arthur becomes empathetic with the head of a moose attached to Susan's father's wall and when Arthur attempts to find Linda's house while completely intoxicated only to wander into the wrong set of flats and meet Perry, far too early in the morning for his charming wife. It's lucky he was there to intervene between the two of them and help keep there harsh words from a little non-existing baby.

I also can't not mention the title tune Arthur's Theme aka "Best That You Can Do" a beautifully written song that takes us straight into Arthur's life and back story, it's one of the greatest and most memorable themes to any film. Performed luminously by Christopher cross, who uses his unique higher pitch voice to tell a tale of a man in need of love, has made this his signature tune, definitely not something to be ashamed of.

Making you laugh till you cry Arthur is something special with an original story that will bring you complete satisfaction as Hobson helps change Arthur into a man with a clear vision of his future. Prepare also for tears though, Arthur loses something he never realises was so important to him but it wasn't too late. A journey you'll never forget and want to see again and again.

It's fantastic to see this again in widescreen, something that I'm fairly certain I haven't done since seeing it in cinemas when it first came out. That's because I live in the States, where the Region 1 DVD is even worse than the Region 2 DVD. They're both bare bones with no features whatsoever, but at least the R2 is NOT pan and scan. Shame on Warner Brothers for not reissuing this in the States. But, to heck with it, I have a Region Free player and ordered it from here. And it looks fantastic. This further proves that region coding is a joke.

"Arthur" is a strong movie showcasing the compelling acting skills of the late Dudley Moore. Dudley Moore plays a carefree and wealthy bachelor who must choose between going the traditional route for money or choosing the uncertainty of going by passion. "Arthur is best for those who like romantic comedies.