A Fish Called Wanda 1988

In the midst of a meticulously planned jewel heist, London-based gangster George Thomason (character name) enlists the expertise of Ken Pile, an animal enthusiast with a stutter, alongside con artist Wanda Gershwitz and her volatile partner Otto West. The foursome, masquerading as siblings for Wanda to weave her charms on Ken and George, successfully execute the heist, vanishing with a substantial haul of diamonds that they cleverly conceal. However, their plan takes a dramatic turn when Wanda and Otto double-cross George, leading to his arrest. Seizing the opportunity, they attempt to reclaim their spoils, only to discover that George had anticipated their betrayal by transferring the loot to a secure safe deposit box and entrusting Ken with the key.

As Wanda navigates her next move, she sets her sights on seducing Archie Leach, George’s attorney, who is trapped in a loveless marriage. Archie’s vulnerability makes him an easy target for Wanda’s charms, but Otto’s growing jealousy sabotages their clandestine encounters, culminating in a series of disastrous events. When Wanda carelessly leaves her locket at Archie’s residence, his wife Wendy finds it and, under the mistaken assumption that it’s a gift, clings to the keepsake with determination. Archie’s subsequent attempts to retrieve the locket are thwarted by Otto, leading him to fake a robbery at their home as a diversion.

As tensions escalate, Archie is eventually able to recover Wanda’s locket and returns it to her during their next illicit tryst, which is abruptly interrupted by innocent bystanders. Realizing he cannot fulfill all of Wanda’s desires, Archie decides to end their affair by phone. Otto arrives at Archie’s residence, seeking to apologize for his past transgressions, but Wendy overhears their conversation and becomes aware of Archie’s clandestine relationship.

As George’s fate teeters on the precipice of freedom, Ken is tasked with eliminating the sole eyewitness to the robbery, the elderly Eileen Coady. However, each attempt to dispatch her results in the accidental slaughter of one of her three diminutive canine companions, filling Ken with a growing sense of anguish and despair. The cumulative toll of these grim events ultimately proves too much for Mrs. Coady’s fragile constitution, as she succumbs to a fatal heart attack. With no witness remaining, George seems poised to walk free, but instead, he imparts instructions to Ken, revealing the location of the ill-gotten diamonds. When Otto’s suspicions are piqued by Ken’s newfound knowledge, he resorts to gruesome torture tactics, including forcing various edibles up his nostrils and into his mouth before devouring each of Ken’s cherished tropical fish - with the exception of Wanda, the last one standing.

As George’s plans appear to be falling into place, Otto’s grasp on the situation tightens. Despite possessing the key contained within Wanda’s prized possession, the duo requires George to remain incarcerated. In a stunning turn of events, Wanda takes the witness stand as a defense witness for George’s trial and delivers incriminating testimony that leaves Archie stunned and flustered. Her unexpected words also have a profound impact on Wendy, who declares their marriage effectively terminated from her vantage point in the public gallery. Archie’s subsequent inquiry is marred by his affectionate slip of tongue, addressing Wanda as “darling”. The seeds of betrayal are sown when Archie learns of Otto and Wanda’s complicity, as well as Ken’s knowledge of the diamonds’ location.

As Archie’s world begins to crumble, he becomes aware of Wanda’s hasty departure from the courtroom. He promptly apprehends her and offers a promise of reduced prison time in exchange for George’s cooperation. With his reputation and marriage in tatters, Archie is left with no choice but to cut his losses, join forces with Wanda, and plot to pilfer the stolen diamonds before making a daring escape to South America alongside his newfound partner-in-crime.

As they hurtle towards Ken’s flat, the stakes are raised as Archie puts pressure on his reluctant acquaintance (Ken), whose uncontrollable stuttering is painstakingly coaxed out by Archie. Meanwhile, Otto seizes the opportunity to pilfer Archie’s car, complete with Wanda in tow. The tension builds as it becomes clear that the safe deposit box containing the coveted diamonds lies at an airport hotel - and Ken’s cryptic hints are all they have to guide them. Undeterred, they embark on a perilous journey to Heathrow Airport, with Otto and Wanda recovering the treasure but ultimately turning against each other in a shocking betrayal. Wanda abandons Archie, leaving him stranded as she boards her flight to Rio de Janeiro, while Otto, still reeling from their double-cross, regains consciousness and concocts a plan to steal his way onto the plane. His attempt at murder is foiled once again by Ken’s unexpected arrival on the tarmac - this time on a steamroller, hell-bent on exacting revenge for his prized fish. As Otto finds himself stuck in wet concrete, he becomes an easy target for Ken’s wrathful vendetta, ultimately meeting his demise as Archie watches from the sidelines. In a heartwarming conclusion, Archie and Wanda tie the knot in Rio, go on to have seventeen children, and found a leper colony; Ken takes up a new role at SeaWorld, while Otto becomes an unlikely Minister of Justice for South Africa.