LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES

France, 1959, 106 minutes, Black and White.
Gerard Philippe, Jeanne Moreau, Annette Vadim, Jean Louis Trintignant.
Directed by Roger Vadim.

Les Liaisons Dangereuses is an updating of the classic pre-French Revolution novel of Choderlos de Laclos. It received great notoriety in the '80s with the theatrical adaptation by Christopher Hampton and his adaptation of his play for the screen, directed by Steven Frears, starring Glen Close and John Malkovich.

This updating is by Roger Vadim at the beginning of his career, his notoriety as a director of films focusing on sexuality and the exploitation of his stars (who often became his wives): Brigitte Bardot, Annette Stroyberg (who stars in this film).

The film came out at the same time as Fellini's La Dolce Vita - and they relate in theme in their observation of contemporary decadent European society.

The film stays close to the outline of the original and updates it satisfyingly. Jeanne Moreau is the evil Jeanette. Gerard Philippe, in one of his last films, is Valmont. Annette Stroyberg is Madame de Tourvel, their victim. Jean Louis Trintignant (who appeared in earlier Vadim films) appears as Danceney.

The film has a prologue in which Vadim himself appears and comments about the morality and amorality of his characters, especially Jeanette. It is an interesting comment on Vadim's understanding of his film, as well as his understanding of the audience and its possible reception. The film is strikingly shot in black and white and has a musical score, much of it played by the celebrated jazz artist Thelonius Monk.

1.The work of Roger Vadim? Sex, corruption? France in the '50s and '60s? Comment on European society?

2.The original novel, the French Revolution setting? The decadence before the revolution? The adaptation and updating? The ironies of the initial comment from the novel and their ironic applications to the '50s?

3.Black and white photography, French settings, the city, the towns, the ski resorts? Authentic atmosphere? Social observation? The use of the jazz score - especially in the club?

4.The title, relationships, genuine and controlled, the effect of such dangerous liaisons and their consequences?

5.The portrait of Juliet: Jeanne Moreau and her presence and style? Her life, influence on other people, her place in society? Her relationship with Valmont, home, her agreement, their power and sex games? Her relationship with the American? Affairs, honesty? Decadent lifestyle? Her friendship with the young girl and her corrupting her? The relationship with her mother? The student, his engagement, her seduction? Her observing of her husband? Arrival at the ski resort, her behaviour, constant presence, the dances and the meals? The discussions and their effect? Separating the two? The confrontation, her malice? The information, the wording of the telegram and her sending it? The scene at the club, the confrontation? The American? The burning and the irony of her being burnt - and the final comment on her scarred face as manifesting the evil of her soul?

6.Valmont as a contemporary rake, his charm, relationship with Juliet? Work, ambitions for overseas position? Diplomatic service? The play on words with reunion? His place in society, the games, his women and attractive charm? The young girl and her attraction? Going to the ski resort? The seduction? His encounter with Madam de Tourvel, attracted, courting her, her resistance? Genuine affection, games and reality? The lyrical scenes with her? The final seduction? The young girl and the tapes, her relationship with the student? Juliet's arriving? His being caught, trapped? The confrontation with Juliet, the decision, the telegram and his cowardice? At the club, drunkenness, dancing, violence, fighting? His death?

7.Madame de Tourvel and her Scandinavian background, integrity? On holiday, her companion? Family? Absent husband, her children? Her purity, religion? Attracted to Valmont? The skiing, the socialising, the lyrical sequences? Caught in his web, her suffering? The seduction? Her hopes, contemplating the divorce? The telegram, the grief? The news of his death? The future?

8.The girl and her lover, her mother, place in society, the sheltered education? Her age, seductive? The student and his serious-mindedness? Her going to the ski resort, socialising, with Valmont, learning from him and his wife, the tape, the seduction, the lies, her pregnancy? The student and his concern, going back to the city? The violent confrontation?

9.Danceney as student, his love for the girl, serious-mindedness? The lies, his becoming a victim? Juliet and her taking him on, earnest, her seduction? The truth and the confrontation?

10.The mother, her place in society, observation of people? Moral ambiguity?

11.The picture of French society, moving fast, amoral and immoral, questions of power, lust, games, flippancy? In the city, at ski resorts, in the club and its atmosphere of decadence? And the musical background?

12.French society as decadent in 1782? The applications to 1960? The points made? The observation? Enjoyment of observing this society? Moralising?