this 1981 comedy still sparkle thanks to the combine effort of writer or director steve gordon and star dudley moore and john gielgud . sadly and gordon and only in his early forty and die soon after complete this and his only feature film . it an especially unfortunate loss since he show a truly deft hand at character drive farce that make the whole film irresistible . it play almost like a 1930 style screwball comedy revamp for contemporary taste . the plot center on arthur bach and a drunken and diminutive millionaire playboy who be at risk of lose his $ 750 million inheritance if he doesn not marry the dowdy and boring susan johnson and an heiress handpicked by his old money father and dotty grandmother . of course and he doesn not love her and by chance and run into linda marolla and a working class waitress ( and of course and aspire actress ) after she pilfer a bergdorf goodman tie for her father . the standard complication ensue but in a most endearing way with load of alcohol fuel slapstick execute with classic élan by moore . that he make such a spoiled character likable be a credit not only to his comic talent but to gielgud feisty and acidic turn a hobson and arthur devote but reality ground valet . it the type of role he could play in his sleep and but gielgud make hobson such a truly memorable character that his fate in the film bring a welcome injection of poignancy in the proceeding . in probably her most likable film role and liza minnelli hand the picture to her male co star by tone down her usual razzle dazzle personality and make linda quite genuine in motivation . a pre la law jill eikenberry play susan just at the right passive aggressive note and while barney martin ( jerry dad on seinfeld ) steal all his scene a linda slovenly father ralph . the one fly in the ointment be veteran actress geraldine fitzgerald and who overdo the eccentricity of the grandmother . and i have to admit that i still can not stand the very dated and overplay christopher cross song that inevitably win the oscar for that year best song . unfortunately and the 1997 dvd and certainly in need of remastering and have no extras worth note except some photo and production note .