Arthur (1981)

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A filthy rich, alcoholic man-boy is threatened with disinheritance if he doesn’t immediately marry a well-to-do woman his family has approved for him. Trouble is, the flyboy suddenly finds himself infatuated with a lower-class shoplifter. Will true love triumph over the all-mighty dollar?

Arthur, written and directed by Steve Gordon, is a welcome, class-oriented throwback to screwball comedies of the ’30s and ’40s. It’s buoyed by charming performances from Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, and John Gielgud. Moore plays the eponymous drunkard who can barely take care of himself. Minnelli plays the petty thief who strikes his fancy, and Gielgud plays the elderly, acerbic butler who cares for him. On its own, Moore’s performance can quickly become grating — the film offers just a tad too much of the drunk schtick. But its tapered soon and well enough by Minnelli’s knavish charm and Gielgud’s droll jabs that mask a surprisingly sincere affection for his employer. The three create a great chemistry that brings the film to life.

Geraldine Fitzgerald (Wuthering Heights, Dark Victory) is sassy as Moore’s tough-love grandmother, and the the title song, by Burt Bacharach and Christopher Cross, brings back a distinct and diggable early ’80s vibe.

Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (John Gielgud), Song (“Best That We Can Do”)

Oscar Nominations: Best Actor (Dudley Moore), Original Screenplay (Steve Gordon)