Product Description

Based on the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses by Choderlos de Laclos, this sweeping period epic set in decadent late 18th century France is the scathing and dramatic tale of the bitter Marguise de Mereuil - a woman so consumed with greed and arrogance she will stop at nothing to bring down those who do not yield to her ambitions and desires. Her ploy is devilishly simple and spiteful: She conspires with her former lover, Valmont, to seduce and innocent young bride so depriving the girl's suitor of the privelege of marrying a virgin.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47603 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-04-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 135 minutes

Synopsis
VALMONT is director Milos Forman's witty and playful adaptation of Choderlos de Laclos's famous novel LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES, about the sexual machinations of two jaded 18th-century French aristocrats. In order to get revenge on the man who jilted her, the wicked Marquise de Merteuil (Annette Bening) persuades a former lover, the rakish Vicomte de Valmont (Colin Firth), to deflower the man's virginal young fiancée. Valmont agrees but presents the marquise with his own challenge: If he succeeds in seducing Madame de Tourvel (Meg Tilly), a virtuous young wife known for her unshakable fidelity, the marquise must grant Valmont a night in bed. The cold-blooded twosome proceeds gleefully with their heartless scheme until true love unexpectedly alters the course of events. Look for a great bathtub scene. The film was co-written artfully for the screen by Milos Forman and Jean-Claude Carriere and set like a gem in the visually emphatic Baroque period.

Customer Reviews

The Art of Seduction
Both "Valmont" and "Dangerous Liasons" are fabulous films. I personally prefer "Valmont". The casting for this film is fantastic. Colin Firth makes a much more charming and handsome `Valmont' who knows how to use the 'art of seduction' to his advantage. Annette Benning is a scheming and beautiful `de Merteuil'. The mood of this film is more feel-good than 'Dangerous Liasons'; it contains more playful humour and the imagery (especially in the outdoors) is amazing. With `Dangerous Liasons'; the characters (played by Glenn Close and John Malkovich) were more sinister and less likeable (I guess it depends what mood you're in). Overall: Highly recommended.

Better than Dangerous Liaisons
This is Milos Forman's under-rated film version of 'Les Liaisons Dangereuse', and although it may seem less stylish than the more successful film released at the same time, it has more emotional truth and impact. In particular, Meg Tilly's wonderful portryal of a woman at once appalled and attracted by a bad man, remains memorable.

Colin paces about while others look on
oh dear a shadow of the far superior Dangerous Liaisons good to look at though and a must for those who like their costume dramatic. It carries that strange timing that a cast of many nationalities produces watch it with the sound off while listening to Michael Nyman, it works! Worth the £3 it cost I may even watch it again.