Quote of the Day (Alec Guinness, on Knighthood for British Actors)

“The point of a knighthood for British actors is to enable them to play butlers.”—Sir Alec Guinness, A Commonplace Book (2002)

(The image accompanying this post is of Guinness’ fellow actor-knight, Sir John Gielgud, who actually won a Best Supporting Actor for playing the butler Hobson in Arthur.)

Movie Exchange of the Day (“Arthur,” on Life and Girls)

Arthur (played by Dudley Moore): [while taking a bath] “God, isn't life wonderful, Hobson?”
Hobson (played by Sir John Gielgud, pictured left): “Yes, Arthur, it is. Do your armpits.”
Arthur: “A hot bath is wonderful... Girls are WONDERFUL!”
Hobson: “Yes, imagine how wonderful a girl who bathes would be. Get dressed.”—Arthur (1981), written and directed by Steve Gordon

Yes, I know that I’ve already done one (maybe two) Movie Quote of the Day from this movie. So sue me. The original Arthur, which premiered 30 years ago today, is still worth lifting a glass to.

And while we’re at it, let’s toast three of the talents sadly no longer with us who helped transform this bubbly concoction into a hit: Gordon (dead at age 43, only a year after a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his single film), Moore (likewise, Oscar nominated, for Best Actor), and Gielgud (who actually won, in his second nomination as Best Supporting Actor).