Plum Crazy

When you think of novels frequently adapted to film, you probably think of "A Christmas Carol" (17 times, excluding TV adaptations), "Frankenstein" (16 times, excluding TV), "Dracula" (14 times, excluding TV), and "Little Women" (7 times, excluding TV). You probably do not think of Choderlos de Laclos's 1789 classic "Les Liaisons Dangereuses". Yet excluding TV productions, this novel has been adapted to film 5 times (one Japanese).

You probably all remember the 1988 version starring John Malkovich as the Victome de Valmont, Glenn Close as the Marquise de Merteuil, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Madame de Tourvel. Some may recall the 1989 version, "Valmont" starring Colin Firth as Valmont, Annette Bening as Merteuil, and Meg Tilly as Tourvel. Those really in the know may realize that 1999's "Cruel Intentions", starring Ryan Phillippe as Sebastian Valmont, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kathryn Merteuil, and Reese Witherspoon in the Tourvel-like role, was based on the novel. But how many of you knew that in 1959, Roger Vadim used the novel as the basis for an updated tale of sexual cruelty and intrigue entitled, aptly, "Les Liaisons Dangereuses"? His version starred Gérard Philipe as Valmont, Jeanne Moreau as Merteuil, and Annette Vadim as Tourvel.

Having now seen 4 of the 5 (the Japanese one lacks great interest to me at the moment), I will say that without having yet read the novel, "Dangerous Liaisons" is my favorite. Between the two period adaptations, Malkovich stands out as Valmont. Firth played a more sympathetic version, but there was something about Malkovich's stunningly cold portrayal of the jaded man who warms up too late when he suddenly falls in love. Michelle Pfeiffer's more serious portrayal of the virtuous Madame de Tourvel is also far and away better than Meg Tilly's rather silly one. Although Bening's performance as Merteuil stands out in my mind as better than Close's (Bening brought a sexiness to the role that Close lacked), it was not enough to make up for Tilly's fatuousness and Firth's not-quite-as-good Valmont. I will confess that almost anyone would have been better as Chevalier Danceny than Keanu Reeves in "Dangerous Liaisons", but fortunately his role wasn't big enough to detract too much from the entire film.

Of the two updated versions, I even prefer "Cruel Intentions". By having Valmont and Merteuil married, Vadim took something away from the story. Jeanne Moreau was quite good as the seemingly pure but truthfully scheming Merteuil, but Gérard Philipe didn't quite have what it takes to make Valmont as calculating as I felt he should be. Very charming, but lacking in that true cruelty that Malkovich so convincingly played. Ryan Phillippe actually had that part down better than the man who so nearly shared his last name. Annette Vadim was rather boring as Madame de Tourvel.

Little known trivia about the film adaptations. Swoosie Kurtz appeared in two of them. She played Madame de Volanges in "Dangerous Liaisons" and had a cameo at the beginning of "Cruel Intentions" as Sebastian's psychologist. Catherine Deneuve, another of Roger Vadim's lovers, is appearing as Merteuil in an upcoming miniseries version along with her son with Vadim, Christian, as Monsieur Tourvel. This version will star Rupert Everett as Valmont (I do like Everett, but I don't see him excelling in this role), and Nastassja Kinski as Tourvel (I shudder).