Arthur (1981)

In director Steve Gordon's romantic comedy, with an Oscar win for its Best Original Song ("Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)"), it told about a drunken, idle-rich NY millionaire with a dilemma - his father insisted that he would only acquire his grandmother's inheritance by agreeing on an arranged marriage to a wealthy, upper-class lovestruck heiress:

• in the film's introduction, alcoholic, spoiled millionaire playboy womanizer Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) picked up a hooker named Gloria (Anne De Salvo) on a street-corner; he answered her question about what he did for a living: "I race cars. I play tennis, I fondle women, but I have weekends off and I am my own boss"

Playboyish Alcoholic Womanizer Arthur

Sudden Realization In Restaurant With Hooker Gloria (Anne De Salvo)

Hooker Gloria with Arthur the Next Morning

• Arthur suddenly realized in the ritzy Plaza restaurant, after wining and dining Gloria, why his advances toward Gloria were so successful - "You're a hooker? Jesus, I forgot! I just thought I was doing great with you"
• the next morning, Arthur's faithful, wise, loyal, sarcastic, reserved and poised butler-valet Hobson (Oscar-winning John Gielgud) found them in bed together (next to a full-sized train set) and was ready with a tray: "I've taken the liberty of anticipating your condition and I've brought you orange juice, coffee and aspirins. Or do you need to throw up?"; he then noted Gloria's silence: "It is thrilling to meet you, Gloria. You obviously have a wonderful economy with words, Gloria. I look forward to your next syllable with great eagerness"
• Arthur announced to Hobson: "I'm gonna take a bath" who responded: "I'll alert the media"; when Arthur added: "Do you want to run my bath for me?" Hobson said: "That's what I live for" - and then quipped: "Perhaps you'd like me to come in there and wash your dick for you, you little s--t?"; Arthur was viewed in a bubble bath sipping a martini, with Hobson at his side, who noted: "Bathing is a lonely business"
• Arthur's extortionist father Stanford Bach (Thomas Barbour) discussed with his son his worries about his son's reputation as a "Millionaire Drunk Playboy"; Arthur would be disowned or "cut off...from the money" if he didn't marry Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry) - the daughter of tycoon Burt Johnson (Stephen Elliott) - his father's business acquaintance ("I want it. Burt Johnson wants it"); however, Arthur stoutly refused: "Frankly, Father, I'd rather starve. And I will. I'll get married when I fall in love with somebody"; as he walked out, his father added: "Fine. I respect your integrity. You've just lost $750 million dollars"; Arthur turned back and was forced to accept the deal - with the wedding already scheduled in a month; Arthur conceded: "Congratulations, Father, you win"
• Arthur saved lower-class shoplifter Linda Marolla (Liza Minnelli), after he saw her stealing a necktie in a department store Men's Department, and she was accosted outside the store by Bergdorf Goodman's security guard Chester (Irving Metzman); Arthur covered for her by claiming that they were shopping together, and it was an oversight that he hadn't paid for the necktie; afterwards, Hobson sarcastically joked with Linda: "Thank you for a memorable afternoon. Usually, one must go to a bowling alley to meet a woman of your stature"

Hobson's Quip Toward Shoplifter Linda

• over time, Arthur asked Linda for dinner dates and a visit to an arcade, and soon learned that she was an aspiring actress who worked in Queens as a diner waitress; Arthur began to fall in love with Linda
• the drunken Arthur experienced a strained dinner with his lovestruck fiancee Susan Johnson, and failed to convince her to drop their engagement; meanwhile, Linda was encouraged by Hobson to attend the upcoming engagement party if she was serious about him, due to his suspicions that Arthur had feelings for her; she crashed Arthur's party to Susan held at his father's estate
• Arthur temporarily postponed his wedding to care for his dying butler in the hospital - with Hobson reassuring him that death wasn't frightening, and his final words: "Arthur, you're a good son" - Hobson had been a genuine replacement for his real father; although Arthur was sober for the last month of Hobson's life, he went on a drinking binge following Hobson's death
• the day of the wedding, the inebriated Arthur visited Linda working at the Queens diner to propose to her - and she accepted; after driving with Linda to the church, Arthur jilted Susan during preparations for the wedding ceremony, causing her angry father Burt Johnson to attempt to stab him with a cheese knife; wounded, Arthur called off the wedding before passing out
• in the empty church where Linda was tending to Arthur's cuts, his wealthy grandmother Martha Bach (Geraldine Fitzgerald) overheard them declaring their love for each other; when she heard Arthur vow to sacrifice his lifestyle for the love of Linda, Martha stepped forward and wouldn't allow him to live a life of poverty - he accepted her offer of $750 million
• as a result, in the finale, Arthur requested his black Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith limousine driver Bitterman (Ted Ross) to open the door for him and Linda before a drive through Central Park: ("Bitterman! Do you want to double your salary?...Then, open that door!") - the last shot was of Arthur's NY State license plate: ARTHUR