Les liaisons dangereuses (film)

Les liaisons dangereuses

French film poster
Directed by Roger Vadim
Written by Roger Vailland
Claude Brulé (adaptation)
Choderlos de Laclos (novel)
Starring Jeanne Moreau
Gérard Philipe
Annette Vadim
Madeleine Lambert
Music by Thelonious Monk
Duke Jordan
Cinematography Marcel Grignon
Editing by Victoria Mercanton
Distributed by Ariane Distribution
Release date(s) September 9, 1959 (1959-09-09)
Running time 105 minutes
Country France
Language French
Budget US$4.3 million

Les liaisons dangereuses (English: Dangerous Liaisons) is a 1959 French-language film, based on the 1782 novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. It was directed by Roger Vadim, and stars Jeanne Moreau, Gerard Phillipe, and Annette Vadim. It was a French/Italian co-production.

Contents

Synopsis

Directed by Roger Vadim as a modern (1959) adaptation of the once scandalous French novel, it pits one woman's desire to manipulate others against the power of real love. Jeanne Moreau plays Juliette de Merteuil, a conniving socialite who manipulates the Vicomte de Valmont (played by Gérard Philipe) into meeting and seducing Marianne (Annette Vadim). Valmont and Marianne fall in love much to his dismay and to the delight of Merteuil. Shot in black and white in the style of the French New Wave (Nouvelle Vague) Vadim's whirlwind portrayal of Merteuil and Valmont's deceitful dealings brings together a clash of late 1950s society and 18th century morality.

Reactions

Vadim's film brought Moreau to an international audience, despite the film's less than stellar critical reviews. The later Jules et Jim would bring her true international stardom. Gérard Philipe died almost 8 weeks after the film's release. It was the last of his films that was released before his death.

Music

The film's score was composed by Thelonious Monk, with additional music by ‘’Jack Marray‘’ (an alias for Duke Jordan), Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Barney Wilen and Kenny Clarke.

Cast

References

External links