Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
Directed by Stephen Frears
Genres - Drama, Romance |
Sub-Genres - Period Film, Romantic Drama, Erotic Drama |
Release Date - Dec 21, 1988 (USA), Dec 21, 1988 (USA - Limited) |
Run Time - 119 min. |
Countries - United Kingdom, United States |
MPAA Rating - R
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
Adapted for stage and screen several times over the past century, French author Francois Choderlos de Laclos' 1782 novel Les Liasons Dangeureuses was the basis for this Academy Award-winning Stephen Frears film. The plot is motivated by a cruel wager between the beautiful but debauched Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) and her misogynistic former lover, the Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovitch). The Marquise challenges Valmont to seduce the virginal Cecile de Volanges (Uma Thurman) before the girl can be wed. Valmont offers a more difficult counter-challenge: He bets the Marquise that he will be able to bed the very moral and very married Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer). In the course of carrying out his plan, Valmont is stricken with a sudden case of honor and remorse, while the Marquise becomes all the more vicious.
Characteristics
Moods
Themes
Keywords
Casanova, decadence, extramarital-affair, love, marriage, sex, wager
Attributes
High Artistic Quality