The Object of Beauty 1991

In the midst of financial turmoil, Jake (John Malkovich) and Tina (Andie MacDowell) find themselves ensconced in a luxurious London hotel, living a life far beyond their means. Jake’s income is precariously reliant on a shipment of cocoa beans trapped in a revolutionary Third World nation. Meanwhile, Tina is still technically married to her first husband, Larry, which complicates her newfound luxury.

As their debts mount, the pressure from hotel executives, Mercer and Swayle, intensifies, as they relentlessly seek payment for the couple’s growing tab. However, amid their financial despair, a small sculpture by Henry Moore— a gift from Larry to Tina—stands as their last glimmer of hope, a symbol linking them to her past obligations.

Desperate to alleviate their burdens, Jake and Tina hatch a plan to fake the theft of the sculpture, aiming to collect insurance money. Their scheme, however, takes an unexpected turn when it is thwarted by Jenny, a deaf housekeeper with a habit of stealing valuable items. The couple’s annoyance shifts to despair as they realize that Jenny has pilfered the very sculpture they intended to claim insurance on, initiating a series of chaotic events as the statue changes hands, each transition leading it closer to destruction.

As stress mounts in their relationship, Jake finds an escape with Joan, Tina’s best friend, leading to an affair that adds another layer of complexity to their already tangled lives. The cycle of theft and loss continues until, in a twist of fate, Jenny returns the sculpture just before the insurance investigators arrive, only to swipe it away once again.

In an unexpected resolution, Jake and Tina decide to auction the statue, effectively solving their hotel debts and enabling them to indulge in their extravagant lifestyle without the weight of financial worry. This turbulent narrative unfolds with a clever nod to the classic struggle of Jekyll and Hyde, reflecting themes similar to those found in Lindsay-Hogg’s 1989 TV adaptation of “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” showcased within the Nightmare Classics series.