Character Relationship Map: Arthur

Characters

• Arthur Bach (played by Dudley Moore) — protagonist

  Spoiled alcoholic heir who learns responsibility and love through hardship.

• Linda Marolla (played by Liza Minnelli) — protagonist

  Street-smart waitress who challenges Arthur and becomes his wife.

• Hobson (played by John Gielgud) — supporting

  Loyal valet and father figure to Arthur, dies in first film.

• Susan Johnson (played by Jill Eikenberry) — supporting

  Upper-class fiancée arranged by families, lacks romantic connection.

• Burt Johnson (played by Stephen Elliott) — supporting

  Wealthy, vengeful father of Susan, antagonist in sequel.

• Bitterman (played by Ted Ross) — supporting

  Chauffeur who drives Arthur and Linda after he inherits fortune.

• Security Guard (played by Irving Metzman) — minor

  Store security who catches Linda shoplifting a necktie.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Arthur Bach → Bitterman (Professional Chauffeur) — Bitterman provides transportation for Arthur's new domestic life.

  Bitterman drives Arthur and Linda through Central Park after Arthur accepts the fortune.

• Susan Johnson → Burt Johnson (Family Daughter) — Their parent-child relationship connects the two sides of the arranged marriage.

  Burt is explicitly identified as Susan's father.

• Arthur Bach → Burt Johnson (Family Future In-Law) — Their expected family connection becomes hostile when Arthur rejects Susan.

  Burt is Susan's father, and the families arrange Arthur's marriage to Susan.

• Arthur Bach → Susan Johnson (Romantic Arranged Fiancée) — Their engagement is a family-arranged substitute for genuine romance.

  Arthur's family requires him to marry Susan, although Arthur does not love her.

• Arthur Bach → Linda Marolla (Romantic Love Interest) — Their relationship develops from attraction into committed love.

  Arthur is attracted to Linda after defending her in the store and asks her on a date. He later proposes to her on his wedding day.

• Arthur Bach → Hobson (Family Father Figure) — Hobson provides the parental care Arthur lacks.

  Hobson has been more like a father to Arthur than Arthur's biological father.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Linda Marolla → Bitterman (Alliance Passenger Partner) — Bitterman transports the newly united couple.

  Bitterman drives Linda together with Arthur through Central Park after their reconciliation with the fortune.

• Arthur Bach → Security Guard (Alliance Defender) — Arthur's first protective act toward Linda begins their connection.

  Arthur intercedes with the store security guard on Linda's behalf after witnessing the shoplifting.

• Linda Marolla → Security Guard (Conflict Adversary) — The guard initially represents the immediate threat created by Linda's shoplifting.

  The security guard catches Linda shoplifting a necktie, and Arthur intercedes on her behalf.

• Hobson → Linda Marolla (Alliance Supporter) — Hobson actively helps Linda and Arthur pursue their relationship.

  Hobson secretly encourages Linda to attend Arthur's engagement party and tells her that he senses Arthur loves her.

Story Analysis

A privileged alcoholic must choose between inherited wealth, imposed respectability, and genuine love.

Plot Progression

1. Wealth Against Desire — Arthur lives as a spoiled alcoholic heir while his family ties his inheritance to marriage with Susan. His meeting with Linda introduces a relationship outside his privileged social world.
2. Love Enters The Party — Arthur remains pressured to marry Susan, but Hobson recognizes his feelings for Linda and secretly helps bring them together. Linda's appearance at the engagement party intensifies the conflict betwee...
3. Loss Changes Arthur — Hobson's hospitalization makes Arthur confront the care he has always received from his valet. Hobson's death devastates Arthur and triggers a return to drinking.
4. The Wedding Rebellion — On his wedding day, Arthur chooses Linda and proposes to her at the diner. He rejects Susan at the church, where Burt responds with a knife attack.
5. Love With A Fortune — Linda tends Arthur's wounds while they consider a poor life together. Arthur ultimately accepts the fortune and leaves Central Park with Linda in Bitterman's limousine.