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The blurb on the back:

A diamond hard view of seduction, adultery and corruption of the innocent, Les Liaisons Dangereuses is the story of a modern French couple — rich, idle and perverse — who have sworn never to be trapped by love. Though married, they make no pretence of sexual fidelity, instead assisting each other in their adulterous affairs. With cold efficiency and ruthless egotism they stalk their victims, taking lovers, enjoying them and casting them aside.
Greeted by a storm of praise and controversy in Paris — where the theatre was closed on opening night by the censors - Les Liaisons Dangereuses is an adult film about adult passions. Based on the 18th century French classic, Roger Vadim's film adaptation of Les Liaisons Dangereuses is a thoroughly modern story —the finest achievement of the young director who first attracted fame with And God Created Woman. For its subtle analysis of the nature of love, its superbly logical and compelling narrative, its magnificent wit and shocking frankness have made Les Liaisons Dangereuses the most celebrated, most successful and most controversial film ever to come out of France.

Choderlos de Laclos’ novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses was one of the triumphs of 18th century French literature, edgy, racy and deeply cynical. And when Stephen Frears’ directed a version of Christopher Hampton’s play from the book in a 1988 film, it was one of the triumphs of 1980s cinema. In between Roger Vadim decided that he’d have a go at it as well and in 1959 knocked out a movie starring Jeanne Moreau and Gérard Philipe.

If you haven’t seen it, you haven’t missed anything. Of interest only to students of European cinema, it was a tepid update of the story that tried to be swinging and shocking and now looks very old-hat indeed; though it was apparently banned in Britain on first release.

This is a copy of the screenplay, accompanied by a couple of hundred stills from the film. They’re not much cop either, I’m afraid and this is about as erotic as you’re going to get:

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ARTISTIC MERIT: 2/5
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 2/5
HIPNESS QUOTIENT: 4/5

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Michael de Forrest
The Lickerish Quartet

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