Dangerous Liaisons (1959)
Juliette Merteuil and Valmont is a sophisticated couple, always looking for fun and excitement. Both have sexual affairs with others and share their experiences with one another. But there is one rule: never fall in love. But this time Valmont falls madly in love with a girl he meets at a ski resort, Marianne.
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I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
the audience applauded
A bit overrated, but still an amazing film
Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
Many of the reviews here included are as good as anyone needs. Therefore, I will not waste your time, nor mine, writing a subjective take on what is a 6 to 8 point movie. What compels me to write, however, is a correction: the music was not written by Thelonious Monk, as is stated in at least two reviews. The credit goes to pianist Duke Jordan (1922-2006), contemporary and friend of Charlie Parker, except of course, that Jordan lived a much longer life, the last 25+ years (since 1978) in Denmark. For those who are interested, the full line up in the soundtrack includes: Sonny Cohn trumpet, Charlie Rouse tenor sax, Eddie Kahn bass, and Art Taylor drums. And, if you excuse a bit of trivia: Duke was married with jazz singer Sheila Jordan from 1952 to 1962 (at this writing, Ms Jordan is 89 years old and still performing!). Concluding, this movie has arguably one of the best jazz soundtracks of the time, not an uncommon event in French film during the 1950s and 1960s (e.g., Miles Davis, Art Blakey). This cool, post-bop, hard bop era was a great creative time for jazz, no doubt. Memorable and rewarded by time till this day.
...for many reasons. few - the mark of Roger Vadim on a story almost classic, the presence of Boris Vian in a role reflecting his work, the cold chemistry between Jeanne Moreau and Gerard Philipe and for the most inspired soundtrack. because it is a jazz film. with improvisation and tension, seduction and precise picture of near reality. more than an adaptation, it is a confesion. Valmont by Philipe, one of his last roles, is more than an example of good job but a testimony about the force and nuances and beauty of the great game of nuances for a special actor. because it is not an ordinary film. it reflects its time more than the source of inspiration novel and the contemporary lost of emotion, form of profound insensitivity/cruelty/egocentric circles in brilliant way. and this is the motif to see it. maybe twice. for admire an authentic masterpiece. and an useful warning.
One of the best films about heartlessness I've ever seen, largely because of the fine work of Jeanne Moreau as Juliette and Gérard Philipe as Valmont. Setting most of the action at a ski resort is especially brilliant because it's at once full of glamour and quite enclosed. For a while the film seems to be a sort of sex comedy, especially with the seduction of the young cousin Cecile (Jeanne Valérie), who is in love with fellow student Danceny (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and engaged to a dull fellow chosen by her family. Cecile is very comely, and the post-seduction scene when she lies nude on her stomach doing her geometry homework and Valmont rests the textbook on her bumit's sweet and amusing. It turns sour when Juliette steals Danceny and forces Valmont to abandon the virtuous Marianne (Annette Vadim) with whom he's actually fallen in love. Moreau is strong and beautiful and twisted, a tour-de-force acting job. At last, an angry Danceny strikes despairing but still glamorous Valmont, who falls and hits his head on an andiron and dies. Juliette accidentally sets her clothing on fire trying to burn their awful letters. Marianne goes mad when she learns of Valmont's death, and with a trance-like smile talks softly about the imaginary home they might have had together. The photography is really fine, and the best additional thing is the wonderful music by Thelonius Monk and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. It's even better than I'd remembered it from many years ago.
Les Liasions Dangeureses is one of the best books ever written - very rococo, very stylish, and very evil but a kind of evil that you have to love. It is surprising even for me to say that the American version of this film beats this horrible French version. The film starts with the director obnoxiously explaining the plot and the characters are continuously explaining themselves. This story is all about secrecy, style and good manners. The film replaces all the good stuff with characters that say out loud all the facts the viewer should be obliged to ponder on. I saw this film with two other fans of Viscont de Valmont and Marqueis de Merteuil (I don't know if that's how you write it) and by the time the film had hit the first half an hour our faces were all alike - disillusioned and disgusted.