Themes: Cons and Scams, Americans Abroad, Crumbling Marriages
Main Cast: John Malkovich, Andie MacDowell, Lolita Davidovich, Rudi Davies, Joss Ackland
Release Year: 1991
Country: UK/US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Michael Lindsay-Hogg wrote and directed this cool and sleek comedy about a seemingly perfect combination -- an American couple staying at a chic London hotel whose pride doesn't permit them to recognize that they are broke, and a hotel staff so brimming with proper British reserve that they can't inform the American freeloaders they need to be paid. Jake (John Malkovich) and Tina (Andie MacDowell) are the American couple trapped in splendor at a London hotel after Jake's cocoa deal in a Third World County is stalled by revolutionary upheaval. Their plight is so dire they walk up the stairs to their luxurious suite rather than take the elevator and risk encountering the hotel manager. Hitting rock bottom, they take stock of their assets and find one -- a $50,000 Henry Moore bust. They decide to fabricate a robbery and collect the insurance money, but a deaf maid (Rudi Davies) has fallen in love with the bust and stolen it herself. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Bill Paterson - Victor Swayle; Ricci Harnett - Steve; Peter Riegert - Larry; Jack Shepherd - Mr. Slaughter; Rosemary Martin - Mrs. Doughty; Andrew Hawkins - Gordon; Wayne Bailey - Steve's Friend; Massimo Burlini - Enrico; Andy Cavenash - Steve's Friend; Stephen Churchett - Mr. Mundy; Ginger Corbett - Melissa; Brian Coyle - Steve's Friend; John Crocker - Waiter; Liz Daniels - 3rd Portuguese Maid; Olara de Almeida - 2nd Portuguese Maid; Barry J. Gordon - Auctioneer; Annie Hayes - Housekeeper; Richard Ireson - Night Porter; Stewart Miller - Steve's Friend; Mario Nocerino - Italian Father; Dillon O'Mahoney - Steve's Friend; Roger Lloyd Pack - Frankie; Colin Parker - Steve's Friend; Jeremy Sinden - Jonathan; Pip Torrens - Art Evaluator; Victoria Willing - 1st Portuguese Maid
Credit
Karen Lindsay-Stewart - Casting, Robert Schwartz - Co-producer, Les Lansdown - Costume Designer, Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Director, Ruth Foster - Editor, Cary Brokaw - Executive Producer, Tom Bahler - Composer (Music Score), John Pritchard - Musical Direction/Supervision, Peter Stolz - Production Designer, David Watkin - Cinematographer, Jon S. Denny - Producer, Michael Lindsay-Hogg - Screenwriter
