Actors - Dangerous Liaisons

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	Actors - Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons is a 1988 film directed by Stephen Frears. It is based upon a play by Christopher Hampton which, by its turn, is based on the classic eighteenth-century novel Les Liaisons dangereuses, by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos.

Production Highlights

Dangerous Liaisons was Frears' first production in the United States, and his eighth feature film. With seven Academy Award nominations, it was considered at the time a very successful Hollywood debut.

The film features widely acclaimed performances from Glenn Close, John Malkovich and Michelle Pfeiffer in the roles of the three major characters from Laclos' novel, the Marquise de Merteuil, the Vicomte de Valmont and Madame de Tourvel, respectively; Keanu Reeves, Uma Thurman and Swoosie Kurtz also star in supporting roles.

The movie was entirely shot on location in historical buildings of the French regions of Île-de-France and Picardie such as, among others, the famous Château de Vincennes. It was co-produced by Christopher Hampton, who also wrote the screenplay based on his own adaptation of Laclos' novel for the stage.

The original score was written by George Fenton. The soundtrack also included masterpieces of baroque and classical music, most notably works from Vivaldi, Bach, Handel and Gluck.

The film, whose characters speak American English, strives for an authentic French sensibility: conversations are hushed, almost whispered, in an effort to evoke the grace and reserve of eighteenth-century nobility.

Awards

Dangerous Liaisons was nominated in 1989 for seven Academy Awards:

Best Picture
Best Original Score (George Fenton)
Best Actress in a Leading Role
(Glenn Close
)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
(Michelle Pfeiffer
)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Christopher Hampton)
Best Costume Design (James Acheson
)
Best Art Direction (Stuart Craig, Gérard James).

It won the last three. At the time, the fact that neither Frears nor Malkovich were nominated led to a few critical remarks in specialized magazines, particularly in the case of the latter, whose performance as Valmont was considered a masterpiece in the history of literary characters portrayed in movies.

The film won two out of ten BAFTA Awards nominations, for Pfeiffer and Hampton. The writer was also awarded by the London Critics Circle and the Writers Guild of America. Philippe Rousselot's cinematography was nominated by the American and by the British Society of Cinematographers, losing both awards.

The Film

The plot

The Marquise de Merteuil calls on her partner, the Vicomte de Valmont, to seduce the young daughter of her cousin, Madame de Volanges, thus having revenge on a former lover, the man to whom young Cecile is promised in marriage. At first, Valmont refuses her proposition: he wants to seduce the prudish Madame de Tourvel, who is spending time at his aunt's house while her husband is abroad.

Upon discovering that Madame de Volanges had been secretely writing to Madame de Tourvel to warn her against his evil nature, Valmont changes his mind and decides to follow Merteuil's scheme. They take advantage of the fact that young Cecile is in love with her music teacher, the Chevalier Danceny, who does not qualify in the eyes of her mother as a potential suitor.

At his aunt's, Valmont easily seduces Cecile, while steadily targeting his main prey. Madame de Tourvel eventually gives in.

The Marquise had promissed the Vicomte a night in her company should he be successful. Nevertheless, she refuses to grant him his prize unless he breaks off with Tourvel completely, threatening to spoil his reputation as a debaucher. Valmont heeds to her request and leaves Tourvel, who thus becomes fatally ill.

Valmont goes back to Merteuil, who in the meantime had taken Danceny as lover, and demands the immediate fulfillment of her promise. The Marquise refuses, and they declare war.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Dangerous Liaisons ]

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Actors - Dangerous Liaisons

Production Highlights

Awards

The Film

The plot

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