By skyforbes I just realized something interesting about Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Valmont (1989), and Cruel Intentions (1999) — and I can’t tell if this is like common knowledge.
All three movies feature the same core dynamic from the novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses:
Valmont and the virtuous woman he becomes obsessed with (Madame de Tourvel, or her modern equivalent).
And somehow… in EVERY one of these films, the Valmont actor ended up romantically involved with his Tourvel in real life:
- Dangerous Liaisons (1988)
• Valmont: John Malkovich
• Tourvel: Michelle Pfeiffer
➡️ They had a real-life affair during filming. Super scandalous. 😱 -
Valmont (1989)
• Valmont: Colin Firth
• Tourvel equivalent: Meg Tilly
➡️ They became a couple, lived together, and had a son. I was also delighted to find out she’s half Chinese, thought that was pretty cool. She has such an interesting face. 😍 -
Cruel Intentions (1999)
• Valmont equivalent: Ryan Phillippe
• Tourvel equivalent: Reese Witherspoon
➡️ They fell in love on set, later married, and had two kids. And it didn’t work out. ☹️
So across three adaptations, spanning 11 years, every single Valmont ended up in a real romantic relationship with the woman playing the same role, and are NOT with that person now.
Did you already know this? Can we call it the Valmont Curse???
That is all. Good night.