Episode 512: Arthur (1981)

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The second film in our Dudley Moore pairing comes just two years after our first, but it cemented Moore's status as a Hollywood superstar! For writer/director Stephen Gordon, this was his first feature film, and his last, as he died in 1982. But 1981's "Arthur" would go on to produce four Academy Award nominations and two wins, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and Best Original Song! The film stars Moore as Arthur Bach, a spoiled rich New Yorker who's never really grown up (largely because he's never had to). The film opens with Arthur being driven around the city by his chauffeur, Bitterman (Ted Ross), and Arthur stops to pick up a hooker named Gloria (Anne DeSalvo) for dinner and a night of friendly debauchery. In the morning, Gloria is tersely turned out by his butler, Mr. Hobson (Sir John Gielgud, who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role). Arthur then goes to meet his father, Stanford Bach (Thomas Barbour) who informs him that Arthur must agree to the marriage he's arrange for him, to Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry), or be cut off from his $750 million dollar trust fund. Arthur reluctantly agrees, and seems resigned to his fate, until he meets a beautiful young shoplifter named Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli). From there, it's a romantic comedy with a surprising sense of heart and the Oscar-winning song, "The Best That You Can Do," by Christopher Cross that seems to sum up all the emotion of the film. Also starring Geraldine Fitzgerald, Barney Martin, and Stephen Elliott! And, the gents talk about what two films they'll be looking at next for what Jeff is calling his "Kids are capable of the darnedest things!" pairing!

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