Christi Dodge  0:00  

Hey everybody, we are kicking off a new month and we want to announce the winner for last month. The winner for September is Superfan Jelana for guessing films about working. Congratulations Jelana, you get to choose one of our films for next year. Remember if you want to participate in this contest, simply email your guests to Christi@dodgemediaproductions.com. Check out the show notes for this information throughout the month. You may guess as many times as you want winners receive a shout out in the next episode, a shout out on social media, your name on our website. At the end of the year, every guest will be entered to win a $100 amazon gift card. Good luck, everybody.

Brennan  0:38  

You’re listening to Dodge Movie Podcast. Your hosts are Christi and Mike Dodge the founders of Dodge Media Productions. We produce films and podcasts. So this is a podcast about films. Join them as they share their passion for filmmaking.

Christi Dodge  0:55  

Welcome back, everybody to the Dodge Movie Podcast. This is episode 138. And the film we are talking about for the second week of October is Arthur. We watched it on MAX. So if you have a subscription to MAX, you too can enjoy Arthur, we watch the 1981 Arthur did I say that already? Not yet. But there is a key difference. There is a key difference. So make sure you watch the earlier version. This one is directed by Steve Gordon, who also did Good Time Harry, which was a television show. And unfortunately, shortly after this movie came out Mr. Gordon died at the age of 44 of heart failure and 1982. Very, very young, very young and such a bummer. So hopefully he felt the success of this film to go out on. 

Mike Dodge  1:40  

Well, that’s looking on the bright side.

Christi Dodge  1:43  

Spoiler alert. It was a big success, but we’ll talk about that later. This movie stars Dudley Moore as Arthur Bach, Liza Minnelli, John Gieguld, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jill Eikenberry, Ted Ross and Barney Martin. The DP was Fred Schuler, who also did 1975 Dog Day Afternoon in 1982 is The King of Comedy. The writer was also the director, Steve Gordon. And he did 27 episodes of a show called The Practice but not the one we’re familiar with. This one came out in 1976 and 77. 

Mike Dodge  2:17  

Was it also illegal drama? 

Christi Dodge  2:20  

I know I’m curious, right? And then it says that in IMDb, it says that he also did Arthur to in 1988 I’m not sure how he did that since he passed in 82.

Mike Dodge  2:34  

Well, you get the story credit for another one. But ADA if he was already deceased, yeah. Would it be in the can and then they…?

Christi Dodge  2:41  

Or did he? Did he write it? They just didn’t make it until like, Yeah, but the one oh, there was Arthur to and then the one in 2011 with Russell Brand. 

Mike Dodge  2:53  

Yeah, that would be a story by credit because they adapted the original. Okay, thank

Christi Dodge  2:57  

Yeah, that you for clearing that up because I didn’t know how he did that from the grave. Yeah, that’s tough. Well done though. The synopsis for this film is alcoholic billionaire playboy Arthur Bach must marry a woman he does not love or he will be cut off from his $750 million fortune. But when Arthur falls in love with a poor waitress, he must decide if he wants to choose love or money. What would you choose? 

Mike Dodge  3:21  

Well, why not go third option both!

Christi Dodge  3:25  

Spoiler alert. The tagline for this film is not Oh, I’ve got let’s see four for you to choose from. Ooh, four. tagline. Okay, number one, Not everyone who drinks is a poet. Some of us drink because we’re not.

Mike Dodge  3:39  

Yeah. Interesting. Yeah. Well, obviously they’re not a poet.

Christi Dodge  3:44  

Alright, let’s hope we get better. Number two, the most fun money can buy. The most fun Money can buy.

Mike Dodge  3:53  

A little bit better, but it’s kind of like that Richard Pryor film.

Christi Dodge  3:58  

Okay, I’m not hopeful for number three. Don’t you wish you were Arthur? 

Mike Dodge  4:02  

Okay. That’s a horrible tagline. Because if I’m seeing a tagline I don’t know who Arthur is. Why would I wish to be Arthur?

Mike Dodge  4:18  

Okay, I gotta give the nod to that one because it’s got a race cars. That’s okay.

Christi Dodge  4:23  

The marketing team like was this over the holidays? Like were they on vacation? 

Mike Dodge  4:28  

Yeah, this is what happens. You get people from community college instead of ab Ivy League school.

Christi Dodge  4:31  

I guess. Wow. Okay, so I’ve got a little bit of trivia and then I’m gonna have you kick us off with your pickup line. Okay, so Steve Gordon originally wanted to cast George Segal as the male lead of Arthur but after the success of 10 in 1979, Dudley Moore replaced Seagull and the movie actually, this movie was actually the second time that more replaced seagull. Seagull was supposed to be in 10 but was replaced and apparently after the release of 10 Seagull was asked if he had seen the movie Hidden he allegedly replied with a finger gesture.

Mike Dodge  5:12  

No, he suggested that the person use first gear.

Christi Dodge  5:15  

Right, or the movie should be called one not.

Mike Dodge  5:19  

Look up there. Yeah, yeah.

Christi Dodge  5:21  

And then my other little bit of trivia is John Gielgud turned down the role of Hubsan several times finally accepting it only because the salary he was offered was too good to pass up.

Mike Dodge  5:33  

Yeah, that’s what I felt like he was just negotiating, you know, I think he’s read Chris Voss has never split the difference. I think you’re right.

Christi Dodge  5:40  

And it will prove well for Gielgud. I will give that little tease that will come up later in the episode but for right now, kick us off with your pickup line. Bittermann Stop, stop, stop. That’s a good one. 

Mike Dodge  5:53  

Yeah, that works pretty well. Because Emily Bittermann was the girl good care. No. Oh, no, no?

Christi Dodge  5:58  

No, he was Hobson. That’s right as the limo driver, the limo driver. Correct. That was him asking the limo driver to stop the car so that he could talk to the ladies of the night.

Mike Dodge  6:13  

Right and not lies. Male is character but other women have negotiable affection?

Christi Dodge  6:19  

Right? It turns out Liza was not in that profession. She was a waitress.

Mike Dodge  6:24  

Oh, that is correct. The line that I’m thinking of was not delivered to lies at the restaurant. It was delivered to the other woman.

Christi Dodge  6:31  

Yes. But Liza wasn’t in that scene either.

Mike Dodge  6:34  

No, she came Slade in the media. Yeah, okay. I just miss remembered where that famous line. 

Christi Dodge  6:39  

Okay. Oh, I know. You’re in the Plaza Hotel. Yeah, Dudley Moore did a lot of improv in this film, and apparently cracked up the crew so much that sometimes 27 takes we’re needed to get a scene, right.

Mike Dodge  6:54  

That’s awesome. Because I thought he was very funny. So it’s even more credit to Mr. Moore that he did that improv and I believe Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us.

Christi Dodge  7:03  

He’s no longer with us. He had I don’t know if I have it here in my notes, but I apologize. Mr. Moore and his family because I don’t have it written down. But he had a terminal illness. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t cancer. I feel like it was like an MS. Or oh, yeah, it was like a it was very sad there at the end. But he was so quick witted and so funny. And the jokes still kind of hold up drinking affects decision making. I agree, but I can’t decide. I’m very good. And then Susan, says Arthur, would you take my hand? And he says, Don’t you need it? No, no, he says, but that would only leave you with one. Yeah. I repeated that one many times in. Right.

Mike Dodge  7:46  

I think we also like, like, we have your table. Yes. But Is anyone sitting at it?

Christi Dodge  7:54  

I love Hopson sarcasm. Oh, yeah. I can’t remember what Arthur said to him. But he just dryly says I relish the thought.

Mike Dodge  8:02  

I also like he says something and often says I’ll alert the media. 

Christi Dodge  8:09  

He just is he’s over Arthur. C is not impressed by his millions. Right. And I think as someone who has worked as how staff, yeah, after a while you do kind of lose the allure. And because it’s just everything, you know, becomes a job.

Mike Dodge  8:28  

Right? So they’re kind of like a co worker, but kind of like a customer. So they’re just a pain in the ass.

Christi Dodge  8:35  

Yeah. So his father threatens to cut him off unless he marries Susan, this was a common theme in the 80s. Kind of like people perilously possibly losing their millions.

Mike Dodge  8:46  

Yeah. And I find this I mean by the premise by the bit, but I find it a little bit wanting as a premise for a story. Because if he is this kind of reckless, he would just say yes and and continue doing what he’s doing. Yes. So the whole point of not marrying someone you’re not in love with implies that you are a person with a strong backbone and upstanding character and those things and we’ve established throughout the film to that point that he has none of those things.

Christi Dodge  9:20  

Do you think that that’s why we have the scene where Susan’s father is threatening like death basically, I mean, bodily harm at the least and, and sudden death. If, if Arthur is not faithful to Susan.

Mike Dodge  9:35  

That yeah, perhaps is setting up kind of the peril, I guess you would say Yeah.

Christi Dodge  9:42  

I feel like we get a little bit of a male gaze when he is in the department store shopping and he catches a glimpse of Linda, of Linda stealing the tie. And he’s just captivated by this idea. Yeah. Or I don’t know if it’s our hutzpah that he’s a but he is just transfixed on her.

Mike Dodge  10:06  

I think because it’s another person who’s breaking the rules. Right? So there’s this recurring theme that he is a child, he needs to grow up. And at one point, Uncle Peter says, grow up, Arthur, you’d make a fine adult. So we’re suppose so I think, like with a child, he’d be like, what? She just did that she got away with that. So maybe that’s it. But it also definitely could just be love at first sight. Right?

Christi Dodge  10:36  

There is something I just I, as I was watching it, I was like, Oh, is this kind of the male gaze? And is it more about her behavior than her beauty even though less is beautiful in this film?

Mike Dodge  10:48  

Yeah, nothing against Liza but they established that the his previous companions were perhaps not the supermodel runway types. So he was less picky about maybe looks and more about personality?

Christi Dodge  11:02  

He just was captivated by her. It’s very funny when Arthur cancels the date and her father’s like in the bathroom, just crying. I need a moment or whatever. Yeah, because he just saw the the money going away is a gravy train. Hobson isn’t feeling very well, which we get kind of a glimpse of maybe what’s to come. And he’s very sarcastic. In almost like annoy you know, when like, you’re a parent, you don’t feel good. And so normally, you would have the patience to kind of see something nicely, but when you are ill or tired or whatever, you kind of are a little sarcastic and snap a little bit. 

And so Hobson kind of does this when he suggests he could save money on prostitutes, if he just stays with Linda like marries Susan, but then just writes Linda, like you’re suggesting, right, and Arthur is very offended by this, because he’s taking Lindell a little bit more serious.

Mike Dodge  12:02  

And Hobson, of course, has no reason to think that he would take anything serious, right?

Christi Dodge  12:08  

So he does go to Linda’s house, and he offers her $100,000 And I guess it’s to be, I can’t tell if it’s just like a one time gift. Hey, I met you. And I think you’re pretty cool. And I’m really rich. So take this or if he is offering her much like Edward offered Vivian, you know, the penthouse and, and different things is the offering for her to be his sidepiece.

Mike Dodge  12:35  

I actually didn’t read it that way at all. For me, it landed like he cared for and he wanted to help her out. And he had lots of money. So he was just like, oh, here, it’s like, Let me buy you lunch. Let me buy your house.

Christi Dodge  12:50  

And that’s probably the way that people have treated him is his value to them is the money you’re offering. So he’s like, I like you and I want to offer you this money that I have. And she’s mortally offended and gives it back which makes her dad cry even more. Yeah. I enjoy the park near the end when he I believe is just gone racing. So he’s wearing the gloves and Hobson says take off your helmet. Then he says take off your gloves. Then he slaps him with the glove. He goes You spoiled little bastard.

Mike Dodge  13:25  

So it’s good when someone makes you give them the equipment they’re going to beat you with.

Christi Dodge  13:30  

So Hobson, very much acts more paternal towards Arthur. Yes. And even his own father.

Mike Dodge  13:39  

Yes. And there’s a line later in the film where he says, My father died. So I stayed sober.

Christi Dodge  13:45  

Right? Yeah, he’s talking to the guy in the bar. Yeah, yeah. There were four different ending shot for this film. Steve Gordon still hadn’t figured out which one he wanted to use, you know, and was going to basically give himself options and editing. And a rough cut to which Dudley Moore objected, gave more of a focus on Arthur and Hobsons relationship than Arthur and Linda’s relationship.

Mike Dodge  14:10  

Was one of the four that Arthur and Linda went to a diner and faded to black over a journey song. That one they said, no, no, no. That’s horrible. No one should ever use that.

Christi Dodge  14:22  

So before moving on, was there anything that I missed in writing or cinematography that that or editing that you wanted to discuss?

Mike Dodge  14:30  

Well, I don’t know. I mean, this this maybe goes to Mr. Moore and that, Mr. Gordon, but the line I was referring to earlier, which I love is great. Is he says, You’re a hookah. I just thought I was doing great with you. Which is I think that’s a very funny line. A lot of his drunk lines are great. You see various clues throughout there. The writing was setting up that he was a child so we see some of that is down to the sets the way it’s their ability. He’s got a train set He’s got like, the painting of a baseball player instead of, yeah, he’s got various childish things, race cars and things indicates. And so we see his behavior, right? 

There’s the arc that he goes through, as and there’s even the lion die, like I mentioned before grow up, you’d make a fine adult. So that’s kind of the journey that he goes through. And you could argue perhaps this is romantic comedy, because it is the love for Linda that causes a transformation in him. Although perhaps it’s also the death of Hobson. So it’s a little bit of column A, a little bit of column B. I thought it was interesting that there is a shot early on when Arthur picks up the other lady of the night in the back of the limo. And I mean, yeah, it wasn’t it to they didn’t light it. It was lit practically whatever came through the windows. That was an interesting choice. 

Not exactly sure how you light things in a car and 82 but I’m sure they had a way to do it. But that says to me, it wasn’t on a process truck. It was just actually being driven around. And there’s a really fun three shot with Arthur, and then Susan’s father, and then the moose in between the third. And for the Department of Show, don’t tell we know that Hobson didn’t make it with the shot of his bed, like made but an unoccupied. So I thought that was a good show, don’t tell.

Christi Dodge  16:25  

I think because if you think about it, Arthur’s character if you take out Dudley Moore’s humor, right? He’s not a likable guy. I mean, no, especially if you’re putting it in the in the framework of the 80s, right? Where we’ve got all this achieve and the yuppies and upward mobility and, you know, like, work hard, right? And you’ll get where you need to go. And he’s just he comes from probably, you know, I mean, this type of a fortune. Seems like one of those families, the Vanderbilts the Rockefellers, right? You know, generational money, he’s done nothing to earn this money. 

But I remember not only liking it in this viewing, but when I was younger and watching it, he would this was a funny movie. I mean, I remember a lot of the lines from this movie. And I think that if it wasn’t for the charm of Dudley Moore more, I don’t think we would like Arthur. 

Mike Dodge  17:29  

I agree with you. I think this film can only work with Dudley Moore. It’s one of those films that I just can’t imagine working with any other actor. He made his role. And you brought up that he’s basically the 1%. Right? And he’s Yeah, like you said, he doesn’t work at anything. In fact, he kind of works at just blowing the fortune. So why would we like him, but he is a likable character. And I think that’s because early on, we see even with the First Lady’s that he picks up, that he does have a tender heart. He’s like a decent fellow. 

Christi Dodge  18:07  

I wonder if that’s why they kind of made his room to look a little bit more childlike to make him less offensive, because like, Oh, he’s just a giant kid. He’s not like, I don’t know.

Mike Dodge  18:20  

 It’s interesting that we really didn’t see, I think, but the one scene with his father, where a lot of the movies of this era would go hard on the oh, he was ignored, or neglected, or the expectations are too high, or all those things and we really never see that we just see the scene where he tells him that he’s gonna lose his money if he doesn’t marry Susan.

Christi Dodge  18:43  

And it’s interesting that the grandmother is the one who kind of because the Father. He doesn’t come like Susan’s father is way more intimidating and scary. Then his own father. And maybe it’s because this fortune was handed to him as well. And I find it fascinating that the matriarch his grandmother is the one who basically says, we don’t know this. It’s an it’s a cute reveal. She gets into her own limo at the very end. And she’s saying, don’t make a dumb move. Oh, because does she tell? I think she tells him like, I’ll give you the money too. And he kind of is like, I don’t need your money because he’s realized that he would then he runs back but then he goes back to talk to her. 

Any he doesn’t share that with the audience or Linda right away. He says, I told her we’d be over for dinner. And then And then he says, oh, and I took the money because I’m not stupid. 

Mike Dodge  19:49  

Right, Duh!

Christi Dodge  19:50  

In the scene where that you mentioned the moose, a lighting technician was up on a ladder and laughed so hard at many of Dudley’s takes that he felt off the ladder oops. During that moose scene that you were talking about the character that is playing Susan’s father, Steven Elliot, he got so mad at all of his ad libbing about the moose. That when he says when you forget about the moose for now that’s like him ad libbing. It was real. And apparently, you can tell by Dudley’s reaction that it wasn’t in the script. So Arthur’s theme was co written by Christopher cross, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager and Peter Allen, who was Liza Minnelli’s ex husband. 

Alan’s only contribution to the song was its famous lyric, when you get caught between the moon in New York City, the best thing you can do is fall in love. And then he came up with this line while he was sitting on an airplane that was stuck in a holding pattern over in New York City at night waiting to land at JFK. And despite his minimal contributions, the other three songwriters insisted that Alan receive a songwriting credit, and he ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Song for just this small little contribution, but it is a great line of the song. So I think it’s sweet that the three of them said yeah, you can be on the work smarter, not harder. Right. It’s a great line when you think about it.

Mike Dodge  21:18  

It is and is it some iconic for the film. 

Christi Dodge  21:21  

Yeah, it is. All right, any, any head trauma in this film?

Mike Dodge  21:25  

There’s a little bit of head trauma. So as we previously mentioned, Hobson slaps Arthur three times at the racetrack after Arthur feels sorry for himself. There is an implied head trauma when Susan’s father punches Arthur off screen but then it’s no longer implied when he comes on screen and punches him. And finally Arthur’s grandmother slept Susan’s father to prevent a stabbing.

Christi Dodge  21:49  

That’s a funny scene and a Smoochie. We have a romance here. Do we get a smooch?

Mike Dodge  21:54  

Smoochy smoochy smoochy! We do Arthur kisses Linda after the security guard confrontation early in the film.

Christi Dodge  22:02  

Nice. And before you do your driving review. At one point during the production Liza Minnelli was supposed to board a bus in front of Byrd doors on Fifth. When a real bus came along. She boarded it being it was the movie best. Not until she was halfway down the block did she realize her blender when she looked back and saw the whole crew cracking. Then you mentioned the racetrack scene. In that scene, he Arthur drives his car around the track which was shot at Danbury fair race Arena in Connecticut. And the type of car that Arthur drove had never raced there. It was primarily for modified stock cars and was one of the Americans American one of America’s greatest short tracks. Sadly, despite its great success, the land became too valuable and it gave way to a shopping mall. It was the 80s.

Mike Dodge  23:02  

They paved over the racetrack to make shopping.

Christi Dodge  23:06  

The Danbury fair race arena closed on October 12 1981, shortly after this film was made. How about you for a driving review?

Mike Dodge  23:16  

Well, it’s just gonna be the last thing but I’ll bring it up to the front. No one raises a Porsche 924 on an oval. I mean, that was the first thing that came up to me the car didn’t match at all. You knew that’s that’s a road track car. Yeah, like I just I’m sorry. I’ve never heard about you. Anybody doing oval racing with it? Yeah, it did. Now, I guess you could argue that he’s rich. So he could just rent the track. And it was close by. But I Yeah, it definitely bumped me. There’s a line early on, where it says I will ask you to Simonize my car. And I challenge anybody under the age of maybe 40. To tell me what Simonides is. I don’t think anybody even knows that anymore. Maybe I should offer a prize for somebody who knows. 

One thing I noticed was his train set appears to include a scale model of his limo, which is 56 Rolls Royce silver Wraith, and that says wealth and conservatism. In particular, you may have noticed the interior bud vases as well as there is a tiny lantern on the roof above the windshield for no apparent reason. I don’t know what that tiny lantern would do. It was a beautiful car and I liked what hap what do they call it when the back doors open? Like yeah, the suicide is yeah, they call it a suicide door also where we always do okay. Yeah.

Then he later on he drives a red 37 Packard 120 convertible, which says he is so wealthy that he can drive an impractical car. Because I mean, New York need to get weather right. So I will mention that one should not drive after drinking but one most especially should not drive while drinking. No, Arthur is a very, very dangerous driver that way kids don’t do that. Leave it to Bitterman. Yes. And also related to that most people park adjacent to the curb, not over the curb. And this is related to the drinking while driving part. So we really shouldn’t use Arthur as a role model.

Christi Dodge  25:22  

No. All right, shall we go to the numbers?

Mike Dodge  25:25  

Let’s go to the numbers. 

Christi Dodge  25:26  

Before we do, I’m going to tell you that that Bach family fortune of $750 million adjusted for today would be 2.1 billion.

Mike Dodge  25:37  

Is that enough to buy a social media platform.

Christi Dodge  25:41  

It’s enough to marry Susan and just date Linda. This was the fourth most popular movie in in US and Canadian box offices in 1981. And the American Film Institute’s 2000 list of the top 100 funniest American movies puts it at 53.

Mike Dodge  26:06  

This movie is funny, unlike 9 to 5.

Christi Dodge  26:11  

So says you. This movie had a budget of $7 million in 1981. And it made at $1.4 million worldwide adjusted for today. That would be like a film making 267 point 6 million. So it was a big big big hit in 1981.

Mike Dodge  26:30  

Did Dudley get points?

Christi Dodge  26:31  

I don’t know that. You would hope so. And IMDb score is 6.9 out of 10. Critics love this movie at 86%. And audiences not so much which is surprising considering the that makes no sense to me. Yeah, it’s 77% is what audiences gave it. And that just doesn’t make any sense to me either. It is an Orion Pictures film. It runs at an hour in 37 minutes. It’s rated PG and like you said it’s a rom com. Like I alluded to before, it’s good thing John Gielgud took this part because he won the Best Supporting Actor role. And Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, Chris Jennifer Krause and Peter Allen won the Oscar for Best Music Original Song for Arthur’s theme. 

Dudley Moore won the Golden Globe that year for Best Actor in a Motion Picture and a comedy and John Gielgud also won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. And it won a Golden Globe for the best song in a motion picture. It also won for Best Motion Picture for Best Comedy or Musical and Steve Gordon one a Writers Guild Award. Is there anything else that you want to share about this film? Did you like watching it?

Mike Dodge  27:50  

I did. I did enjoy rewatching it. Yeah, it was good. It held up.

Christi Dodge  27:54  

I would recommend Arthur. I remember it being probably one of my top 10 in the 80s.

Mike Dodge  28:01  

Yeah, it was quite good. Yeah. I would also say you can probably skip the version with Russell Brand.

Christi Dodge  28:07  

Yes, I agree with that. Let’s see. So that that’s our second film for October next week. We are going to be talking about night shift. So you can watch that ahead of time. And then next Sunday, come back here and enjoy our conversation of night shift. But never forget…

Mike Dodge  28:27  

Dodges never stop and neither do the movies.

Brennan  28:29  

Thanks for listening to Dodge Movie Podcast with Christi and Mike Dodge of Dodge Media Productions. To find out more about this podcast and what we do. Go to dodgemediaproductions.com. Subscribe, share, leave a comment and tell us what we should watch next. Dodges never stop and neither do the movies.