A drunken millionaire's journey to maturity became a 1981 box office sensation
In short: Arthur, the story of a spoiled heir forced to choose between a massive fortune and true love, remains a classic of the romantic comedy genre. Despite a rocky production and a difficult casting process, the film captured the public imagination, securing critical acclaim and an Academy Award for its iconic theme song.
Released in 1981, Arthur follows the life of Arthur Bach, a wealthy New York City alcoholic who faces disinheritance unless he marries a woman he does not love. The film was the only directorial effort from Steve Gordon, who penned the screenplay at a local restaurant. The production faced significant hurdles, including the studio initially dropping the project before Orion Pictures intervened, and a difficult promotional phase that saw six separate advertising campaigns discarded before settling on a final strategy.
Casting the lead role proved equally complex. While Dudley Moore eventually secured the part, the production considered several major American actors, including Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, and John Travolta. Gordon originally envisioned the character speaking with an American accent, but Moore struggled with the delivery and successfully negotiated to use his own natural English voice. This choice added a layer of depth to the character, with some viewers interpreting the accent as a byproduct of his upbringing by his valet, Hobson, rather than his biological father.
The film's success was substantial, earning $95.5 million domestically and ranking as the fourth highest-grossing film of its year. It earned critical praise and several accolades, including an Academy Award for Sir John Gielgud as Best Supporting Actor and another for the title song, "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)." Despite this, subsequent attempts to recapture the magic failed. A 1988 sequel and a 2011 remake were both met with poor critical and financial reception, leaving the original as the definitive version of the story.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Arthur (1981 film)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/entertainment-arthur-1981-film.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Films · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics
