Dudley Moore stars in this runaway boxoffice hit as the drinking multi-millionaire playboy who never grew up. Co-starring Academy Award-winners Liza Minnelli ("Cabaret") and Kathy Bates ("Primary Colors," "Misery"), multi-Emmy-nominee Jill Eikenberry ("L.A. Law"), and Sir John Gielgud ("Murder on the Orient Express") who won an Oscar for this role. Winner of a Golden Globe Award for Best Picture of 1981 and another Academy Award for Best Original Song.

It's summertime! Arthur, D.W. and Buster are spending a few days at the beach where they discover the simple joys of building sand castles. Buster's friends have had enough of his sloppy habits. But they may have gone too far when Buster goes overboard to avoid germs!

When Elwood City experiences a drought, Francine bets Arthur that her family can use less water than his. But Francine is shocked to learn that, despite her conservation efforts, her water meter levels are twice as high as Arthur's! What's going on at the Frensky household? Will Francine find out who's behind the flushing frenzy? / The TV show, "Treasure Caravan," is coming to Elwood City! Arthur and D.W. are convinced that in Grandma Thora's attic they'll find treasures that will make them famous on TV -- and rich beyond their wildest dreams. But what they really discover is that family history and cultural traditions are far more precious.

Arthur's parents have been married for 10 years and it's time to celebrate! But the festivities are cut short when the van breaks down, stranding the whole family. Will the Reads miss their fancy dinner reservation? And what about Arthur's special "Bionic Bunny" sleepover with Buster?! Just when things couldn't get any worse, Arthur and D.W. end up locked in a diner storeroom - but when they hear the inspiring radio tale of Crooning Cowboy Kid Carter and his little sister sidekick, Arthur realizes that the best celebration of all is just being with his family.

It's almost Thanksgiving and Mr. Ratburn assigns a five page paper about the holiday. Francine copies and pastes hers entire report directly from the Internet. There's nothing wrong with that.... is there? Everyone is into the new supermarket reality show on TV...everyone except Arthur. When Buster stops watching Bionic Bunny to watch his new favorite show, Arthur fears their friendship is over.

The ads for Arthur suggested that this was an obnoxious film about an obnoxious man, an eternally drunken millionaire indulging his every whim. Instead, Arthur (Dudley Moore) is a sweet, somewhat pathetic character whose millions have left him lonely and with no motivation in life. When the film opens, Arthur is on the threshold of an arranged marriage with simpering socialite Jill Eikenberry, whom he does not love. Everyone expects Arthur to behave himself, but nobody truly cares for his well-being, with the exception of father-figure butler John Gielgud (who won an Oscar for his performance) and blue-collar shoplifter Liza Minnelli. Arthur would prefer to marry the lowly Minnelli, but his iron-willed grandmother (Geraldine Fitzgerald) threatens to pull the plug on his huge inheritance if he doesn't honor his position in life and go through with his marriage to Eikenberry. A sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks, followed in 1988. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide.