Dangerous Liaisons

Dangerous Liaisons is a 1988 American period romantic drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Christopher Hampton.

Dangerous Liaisons is a 1988 American period romantic drama film directed by Stephen Frears and written by Christopher Hampton. It is based on Hampton’s 1985 play, itself adapted from Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s 1782 novel, and follows aristocrats in 18th-century France as they engage in manipulation, seduction, and revenge. The film won three Academy Awards and was a modest box-office success.

Plot

The story follows the Marquise de Merteuil and the Vicomte de Valmont, two aristocrats who use manipulation and sexual intrigue to pursue revenge and amusement. Their schemes affect figures including Cécile de Volanges and Madame de Tourvel.

Production and adaptation

The film adapts Christopher Hampton’s stage play, which itself was based on Laclos’s 1782 epistolary novel. The screenplay by Hampton translated the source material’s themes of class, morality, and manipulation into a feature film.

Release and reception

Dangerous Liaisons was released in December 1988 by Warner Bros. Pictures. It was a modest commercial success, earning about $34.7 million against a $14 million budget, and received strong critical recognition with seven Academy Award nominations.

Awards

At the 61st Academy Awards, the film received seven nominations and won three Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, and Best Production Design.