Touches You

A Masterpiece!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Arthur was fun enough. Dudley Moore was ok, but John Gielgud is a delight! I'm not a fan of Liza Minnelli, so it's hard to root for her as Arthur's romantic interest when I see no reason why they should be together. I don't know why this film got Oscar buzz, but it's worth a watch.

Arthur Bach (Dudley Moore) is a sloppy drunk with no ambition. He is the heir to a family fortune but his father threatens to take it away if he doesn't marry Susan Johnson (Jill Eikenberry). He doesn't love Susan and he's afraid of her father. His valet Hobson (John Gielgud) is his best friend and his father figure more than his actual father. While shopping at Bergdorf Goodman with Hobson, he sees Linda Morolla (Liza Minnelli) shoplifting a tie for her unemployed father's birthday. He comes to the rescue and starts to date the lowly Linda despite his engagement to Susan.This is an adorable rom-com. Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli have never been more cute together as a couple. The rom-com formula works so well because the two of them have great chemistry. John Gielgud is also just so terrific.

"Susan you're such an a**hole!" Only someone as hopelessly childlike as Arthur could glean a smile from such a comment but his fiancé seems oblivious to his insults. For this is the best he can do as he sits opposite a woman he is forced to marry or be cut off without a cent (US$750million to be exact). Susan adores everything about him (what woman wouldn't?) and come to think of it, most of the people he meets in the film adore him except his family. I certainly would fall at his feet if Arthur Bach were a real character. He has warmth, style and dare I reveal my shallowness - he has pots and pots and pots of money. So what's not to like? This film is utterly charming and hasn't lost any of its appeal even though it's now more than 30 years old. It is a really romantic film at its heart and it is very satisfying watching the helpless manchild fall in love with a charismatic and striking actress, Linda Marolla (played by a quirky Liza Minnelli). Unfortunately this all happens at the same time as he is being manipulated by his powerful family into marrying the beautiful, elegant and how can I put this - a square cardboard cut out of a woman, Susan Johnson. She is beautiful, no question but Arthur, although from old money, acts like a parvenu; he's always drunk and appears to connect with real people and so the vivacious Linda, who's always got a story at the ready to get herself out of trouble, really appeals to him.Arthur's character is a charming playboy whose life revolves around drinking and laughing, and little else. He likes to live it up, a bit like the hellraisers of the eighties but with none of their artistic bent. Arthur is no Ollie Reed or Peter O'Toole, he is a bored multimillionaire which does make him quite a tragic figure. "Some people drink because they are not poets. This is who I am." He desperately tries to explain to the gloriously vacuous Susan. But boy does he come alive when he's on the sauce! Dudley Moore who plays Arthur is very convincing as a drunk and plays it so beautifully. He is certainly the life and soul of the party and the best one liner for me is when he says to his betrothed's butler "Are you sure you want to be a nightclub comic?" when said butler displays all the personality of a walking corpse. Arthur's own butler, Hobson (Sir John Gielgud) needs no introduction and deserved the Oscar he received for his dry and biting wit. "If you and your undergarment could move two paces backwards, I could enter this dwelling." he snorts to Linda's bewildered father as he enters their humble abode. Hobson is an innate snob and even though every utterance is an insult he's such an original that you readily forgive him.As we see the dilemmas that Arthur faces throughout the film, we do see him develop and mature (just a bit). His slightly deranged and eccentric grandmother, Martha is hilarious and I thought she would be a great match for Hobson as they are both inveterate snobs but that would be a totally wild and unbelievable storyline - what was I thinking! If you are still an old romantic at heart (even though thirty years have passed since you may have seen it) watch it again. Arthur and Martha truly lit up my heart as did all the other characters. RIP Dudley Moore and Sir John Gielgud, unforgettable performances, unforgettable film.

A 40 something alcoholic playboy with sense of responsibility or ambition who has had everything he has ever had handed to him on a platter finally gets an ultimatum from his family by way of an arranged marriage.He must marry this woman or lose a hefty inheritance.He proposes,though he has no true feelings for the woman.He then meets and falls in love with another woman,thereby complicating his life.I like the story and it was well played out and very humorous.Dudley Moore's laughter as the title character was particularly infectious,although alcoholism isn't something I would normally find funny.Liza Minnelli and John Gielgud were great in their support.All told,a good film.