the late dudley moore have the most famous role of his too short career in 1981 arthur and a raucously funny and alternately touch tale that generate warm smile and big belly laugh and and an occasional tear if youre in the right mood . moore receive a best actor oscar nomination for his performance a arthur bach and a drunken playboy who race car and play tennis and fondles woman and but he have weekend off and he his own bos . arthur be destine to inherit 750 million dollar when he marry a snooty society girl name susan johnston ( jill eikenberry ) who be the spoiled daughter of an undercover gangster . thing get sticky when arthur meet linda morolla ( liza minnelli ) a waitress or struggle actress from queen who steal necktie for her father birthday . moore light up the screen in one of the single funniest performance of the last 50 year . the late sir john gielgud win a best supporting actor oscar for his flawless turn a arthur acid tongue butler and best friend and hobson and whose outward disdain for arthur behavior cover more paternal feeling . there be other funny contribution by barney martin a linda father . stephen elliott a susan father and and geraldine fitzgerald a arthur demented grandmother . the film be direct with a keen eye for comedy by a first time director name steve gordon and who and sadly and die the follow the year . there be also a forgettable sequel several year later and but this instant classic be not to be miss .