WHEN SOMETHING’S THIS HOT… LET IT BURN.

SoHo art gallery worker Elizabeth McGraw (Kim Basinger) embarks on a steamy relationship with Wall Street shark John Gray (Mickey Rourke), letting herself become increasingly dominated by him.

Dividing audiences and critics, this undeniably classic erotic drama benefits from its song score and the attractive leads; the sex is memorably shot, including the famous scene involving an ice cube.

Where the film fails to grab us is in the shallow portrait of the characters, whose fling is predictably DOA.

1986-U.S. 116 min. Color. Directed by Adrian Lyne. Screenplay: Patricia Knop, Zalman King, Sarah Kernochan. Novel: Elizabeth MacNeill. Cinematography: Peter Biziou. Cast: Mickey Rourke (John Gray), Kim Basinger (Elizabeth McGraw), Margaret Whitton (Molly), David Margulies, Christine Baranski, Karen Young.

Trivia: Followed by a direct-to-video sequel, Love in Paris (1997), and a prequel, The First 9½ Weeks (1998).