Production Year: 1988
Country: USA | UK
Runtime: 119 min
Genre: Drama | Romance

Filming Dates: 30 May 1988 - August 1988

Budget (estimated): $14,000,000
Gross (USA): $34,700,000

Directed by Stephen Frears
Screenplay by Christopher Hampton based on his own play based on the novel "Les liaisons dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos
Produced by Norma Heyman & Hank Moonjean
Co-produced by Christopher Hampton
Direction of Photography by Philippe Rousselot
Production Design by Stuart Craig
Art Direction by Gavin Bocquet & Gérard Viard
Original Music by George Fenton
Costume Design by James Acheson
Film Editing by Mick Audsley
Casting by Howard Feuer & Juliet Taylor

Production Companies:
Lorimar Film Entertainment
NFH Productions
Warner Bros. Pictures

Set in France around 1760-1770. The Marquise de Merteuil needs a favour from her ex-lover, Vicomte de Valmont. One Marquise de Merteuil's ex-lover, Gercourt, is planning on marrying a young, virtuos, woman called Cecile de Volanges. The Marquise would like Valmont to seduce Cecile before her wedding day. Meanwhile Valmont has a conquest of his own in mind, Madame de Tourvel, a beautiful, married, and God fearing woman. The Marquise doesn't think that Valmont can do it, she tells him that if he can provide written proof of a sexual encounter with Madame de Tourvel, that she will offer him a reward, one last night with her. But Valmont will find himself falling in love with Mrs. de Tourvel, embrasing the deadly jealousy of the marquise de Merteuil.

Abbaye du Moncel, Pontpoint, France
Château de Champs-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France
Château de Guermantes, Seine-et-Marne, France
Château de Lésigny, Seine-et-Marne, France
Château de Maisons-Laffitte, Yvelines, France (Madame de Rosemonde's estate)
Château de Neuville, Gambais, Yvelines, France
Château de Vincennes, Val-de-Marne, France
Château du Saussay, Ballancourt-sur-Essonne, Essonne, France
Theatre Montansier, Versailles, France (opera scenes)

USA: 16 December 1988 (limited) | 21 December 1988
Argentina: 23 February 1989
Australia: 9 March 1989
Spain, Sweden and UK: 10 March 1989
France: 22 March 1989
Finland: 24 March 1989
Italy: 7 April 1989
West Germany: 13 April 1989
Netherlands: 3 May 1989
Hong Kong: 8 June 1989
Japan: 16 September 1989

Dangerous Liaisons - USA (Original Title)
Las Amistades peligrosas - Spain
Les Amistats perilloses - Spain (Catalan title)
Epikindynes sheseis - Greece
Farlige forbindelser - Denmark
Farligt begär - Sweden
Gefährliche Liebschaften - West Germany
Les Liaisons dangereuses - France
Ligações Perigosas - Portugal
Niebezpieczne zwiazki - Poland
Relaciones peligrosas - Argentina / Chile
Le Relazioni pericolose - Italy
Valheet ja viettelijät - Finland
Veszedelmes viszonyok - Hungary

Mildred Natwick's final film

When the novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos was first published in 1782, it was considered so scandalous that when Queen Marie-Antoinette commissioned a copy for her personal library she had to have it bound in a blank cover so that no-one would recognise the author's name or title

Swoosie Kurtz, who plays Madame de Volange, went on to play Dr. Greenbaum in Cruel Intentions (1999), the modern retelling of Dangerous Liaisons. In both films, Valmont seduces her daughter.

The young Drew Barrymore was tested for and came close to getting the role of Cécile.

1989 - Academy Awards, USA
» Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Stuart Craig & Gérard James [Won]
» Best Costume Design: James Acheson [Won]
» Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Christopher Hampton [Won]
» Best Actress in a Leading Role: Glenn Close [Nominated]
» Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Michelle Pfeiffer [Nominated]
» Best Music, Original Score: George Fenton [Nominated]
» Best Picture: Norma Heyman & Hank Moonjean [Nominated]

1989 - American Society of Cinematographers, USA
» Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases: Philippe Rousselot [Nominated]

1989 - British Society of Cinematographers
» Best Cinematography Award: Philippe Rousselot [Nominated]

1989 - Joseph Plateau Awards
» Best Foreign Film [Won]

1989 - Writers Guild of America, USA
» Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: Christopher Hampton [Won]

1990 - BAFTA Awards
» Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Michelle Pfeiffer [Won]
» Best Screenplay - Adapted: Christopher Hampton [Won]
» Best Actress: Glenn Close [Nominated]
» Best Cinematography: Philippe Rousselot [Nominated]
» Best Costume Design: James Acheson [Nominated]
» Best Direction: Stephen Frears [Nominated]
» Best Editing: Mick Audsley [Nominated]
» Best Make Up Artist: Jean-Luc Russier [Nominated]
» Best Original Film Score: George Fenton [Nominated]
» Best Production Design: Stuart Craig [Nominated]

1990 - Bodil Awards
» Best Non-European Film: Stephen Frears (director) [Won]

1990 - César Awards (France)
» Best Foreign Film: Stephen Frears [Won]

1990 - Fotogramas de Plata (Spain)
» Best Foreign Film: Stephen Frears [Won]

1990 - Guild of German Art House Cinemas
» Foreign Film: Stephen Frears [Won]

1990 - London Critics Circle Film Awards
» Screenwriter of the Year: Christopher Hampton [Won]

1990 - Sant Jordi Awards
» Best Foreign Actor: John Malkovich [Won]
» Best Foreign Film: Stephen Frears [Won]