Dangerous Liaisons

Set among the opulent salons and rigid codes of late 18th century France, Dangerous Liaisons follows a pair of aristocrats who revel in social manipulation. The Marquise de Merteuil, witty and calculating, teams with her former lover the Vicomte de Valmont to orchestrate a ruthless bet of romance for their own amusement and advantage. Their target is a virtuous young woman, and their scheme drags in friends, guardians, and rivals, threading deception through flirtation, letters, and courtly etiquette. As desire collides with reputation, the delicate order of polite society is tested. The plan probes the boundaries of influence and consent, turning affection into power and power into danger, while keeping the twists offstage for now. It's a plan that probes the boundaries of influence and consent, turning affection into power and power into danger, while keeping the twists offstage for now.

Directed by Stephen Frears, this 1988 adaptation brings Christopher Hampton's screenplay from Laclos's novel to vivid life. It benefits from a stylish, high powered cast and a deft sense of period detail, with lush art direction and a keen eye for social manners.

The film grossed about 34.7 million worldwide on a 14 million budget, a solid return for a prestige drama of its era that benefited from star power and critical attention abroad, and later found enduring popularity on home video.

The film helped shape late 80s cinema with its lush production values, sharp dialogue, and powerhouse performances by Close, Pfeiffer, and Thurman. Its image of aristocratic wit and murderous romance lingered in fashion and stagey period pieces that followed, and it influenced costume design and the way prestige dramas were marketed, highlighting sexual intrigue within a refined moral world.

Critics welcomed its witty take on courtly games and the moral costs of manipulation. The film centers on desire and power, while exposing hypocrisy in manners and gendered expectations, wrapped in elegant design and strong performances that sharpen the drama, and some praised its delicate balance of mood and humor.