Cruel Intentions (1999)

Director:

Roger Kumble

Writers (WGA):

Choderlos de Laclos (novel)
Roger Kumble (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

In the game of seduction, There is only one rule: Never fall in love

Plot:

Kathryn makes a bet that her step-brother, Sebastian, won't be able to bed Annette (a virgin, who wants to wait until love). If he loses, Kathryn gets his Jaguar, if he wins, he gets Kathryn.

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Virgin | Love | Jaguar | Revenge

Awards:

7 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Kathryn Merteuil
Ryan Phillippe	...	Sebastian Valmont
Reese Witherspoon	...	Annette Hargrove
Selma Blair	...	Cecile Caldwell
Louise Fletcher	...	Helen Rosemond
Joshua Jackson	...	Blaine Tuttle
Eric Mabius	...	Greg McConnell
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Ronald Clifford
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Dr. Greenbaum
Christine Baranski	...	Bunny Caldwell
Alaina Reed-Hall	...	Nurse
Deborah Offner	...	Mrs. Michalak
Tara Reid	...	Marci Greenbaum
Herta Ware	...	Mrs. Sugarman
Hiep Thi Le	...	Mai-Lee
Charlie O'Connell	...	Court Reynolds
Fred Norris	...	Meter Maid
Ginger Williams	...	Clorissa
Drew Snyder	...	Headmaster Hargrove
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Phil Hawn	...	Subway Pedestrian (uncredited)
Jim Jenkins	...	Mr. Caldwell (uncredited)
Elizabeth M. Kelly	...	Party Goer (uncredited)
Guy Kochlani	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Kumble

Writing credits (WGA)
Choderlos de Laclos		(novel "Les liaisons dangereuses")
Roger Kumble		(screenplay)

Produced by
Christopher Ball	....	co-executive producer (as Chris J. Ball)
Michael Fottrell	....	executive producer
Heather Lieberman	....	co-producer (as Heather Zeegen)
Bruce Mellon	....	co-executive producer
Neal H. Moritz	....	producer
William Tyrer	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Ed Shearmur		(as Edward Shearmur)

Cinematography by
Theo van de Sande

Film Editing by
Jeff Freeman

Casting by
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Jon Gary Steele

Art Direction by
David Lazan

Set Decoration by
Tessa Posnansky

Costume Design by
Denise Wingate

Makeup Department
Brenda Blatt	....	hair stylist
Karen Blynder	....	makeup artist
Rose Chatterton	....	hair stylist: New York
Dugg Kirkpatrick	....	key hair stylist
Brad Wilder	....	key makeup artist (as Bradley Wilder)

Production Management
Jenifer Chatfield	....	post-production supervisor
Diana Schmidt	....	production manager: New York
Sara E. White	....	unit production manager
Ron Martin	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael A. Allowitz	....	assistant director: additional photography
Michael A. Allowitz	....	first assistant director
Sam Hill	....	first assistant director
Melissa Cummins Lorenz	....	second second assistant director
Aida Rodgers	....	second second assistant director: New York
Amanda Slater	....	second assistant director: New York
Alicia Valdez	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Bob Arietta	....	on-set scenic: New York
Joseph Badalucco Jr.	....	assistant property master: New York (as Joseph Badalucco)
Sharleen Bright	....	scenic artist
Clovis Chamberet	....	leadman
Robert Currie	....	on-set dresser: New York
Chris DeTitta	....	leadman: New York (as Christopher De Titta)
Andrew Dimeo	....	property master: New York
Josh Ian Elliott	....	on-set dresser
Nathalie Leslie-Cassergrain	....	art department assistant: New York
Susan E. Lomino	....	assistant art director (as Susan Lomino)
Jim Ondrejko	....	construction coordinator (as James Ondrejko)
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Timothy P. Tundel	....	art department assistant
Ron von Blomberg	....	set decorator: New York (as Ronnie von Blomberg)
Angela M. Whiting	....	assistant property master (as Angela Whiting)
Jason Bartolone	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Scott Duthie	....	visual development (uncredited)
Steven Ladish	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Brydon Baker III	....	boom operator (as Brydon Baker)
Michael J. Benavente	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Benavente)
Susan Dudeck	....	adr editor
Alison Fisher	....	dialogue editor (as Allison Fisher)
Stephanie Flack	....	dialogue editor
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer
Doug Hemphill	....	re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
Rosa Howell-Thornhill	....	sound mixer: New York
Paul Massey	....	re-recording mixer
John Morris	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Newlan	....	supervising sound editor
Kim H. Ornitz	....	production sound mixer
Hamilton Sterling	....	foley editor
John Joseph Thomas	....	sound effects editor (as John Thomas)
Ron Vignone	....	assistant sound editor
Joe White	....	boom operator: New York
Dick Hansen	....	cable person (uncredited)
Hanson Hsu	....	sound engineer (uncredited)
Anna D. Wilborn	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Matthew Pope	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
O.T. Hight	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)
Erik Liles	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Colin Strause	....	compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Greg Strause	....	compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Edson Williams	....	senior digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator
Al Cerullo	....	stunts
Shane Dixon	....	stunt coordinator
Frank Ferrara	....	stunts
Dustin Meier	....	stunts (as Dustin J. Meier)
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Michael Russo	....	stunts (as Mike Russo)
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joanne Lamstein	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Garrett Benson	....	second assistant camera
Levon Besnelian	....	dolly grip
A. Anthony Cappello	....	first assistant camera
Jack Chouchanian	....	key grip
Doug Dalisera	....	assistant chief lighting technician: New York (as Douglas Dalisera)
Andrea Dorman	....	first assistant camera: New York
Russell Engels	....	gaffer: New York
Bill Gerardo	....	additional first assistant camera: New York (as Billy Gerardo)
Robert Gray	....	camera operator
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	dolly grip: New York (as Richard Guiness Jr.)
Billy Kerwick	....	best boy grip: New York (as William Kerwick)
Greg Kittelson	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Jono Kouzouyan	....	gaffer
Kevin McKenna	....	video assist: New York
Melissa Moseley	....	still photographer
George Pattison	....	camera operator: New York
James Pollard	....	key grip: New York
Frank Rinato	....	additional first assistant camera: New York
Jamie Silverstein	....	camera operator: "b" camera, New York
Jennifer Koestler	....	film loader (uncredited)
David Norris	....	camera operator: Wescam camera (uncredited)
R. Bruce Prochal	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Suzanne Anaya	....	extras casting
Karen E. Etcoff	....	extras casting: New York
Carrie Campbell	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Rachael Erwin	....	casting intern (uncredited)
Freddy Luis	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Alan Joseph Ortanez	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandra Collier	....	wardrobe supervisor
Charles C. Crutchfield	....	costume supervisor: New York
Deidra E. Govan	....	costume supervisor: New York (as Deidra Elizabeth Govan)
Kathleen Mussehl	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Debra Goldfield	....	assistant editor
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Michael Rafferty	....	first assistant editor (as Michael J. Rafferty)
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)
Michael Thau	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Amanda Goodpaster	....	music editor
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
P.J. Bloom	....	soundtrack coordinator (uncredited)
Chris Fogel	....	music scoring mixer (uncredited)
Zigmund Gron	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Michael Antunez	....	transportation captain
Michael Brum	....	transportation captain (as Michael C. Brum Sr.)
Louis Volpe	....	transportation captain: New York
Ralph Volpe	....	transportation co-captain: New York
David Oppenheim	....	driver: production van (uncredited)

Other crew
Herbert W. Ankrom	....	assistant production coordinator
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Brian Bays	....	production assistant
Linda Brown	....	unit publicist
Jacqueline Butryn	....	location manager
Carrie Cook	....	assistant: Mr. Moritz
Alan Day	....	production assistant
Oliver Decker	....	location production assistant: New York
Matthew Docter	....	production assistant
Gwen Everman	....	production accountant
James Gallagher	....	production assistant: New York
Kelsey J. Geisler	....	production assistant: New York (as Kelsey Geisler)
Erik Hagestad	....	production assistant
Moe Jelline	....	assistant: Mr. Moritz
Lonnie Kandel	....	production coordinator: New York
Suk Yi Mar	....	assistant location manager: New York
Jacqueline Martinez	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Karon May	....	script supervisor
Catherine S. McComb	....	production coordinator
Timothy R. Price	....	production assistant (as Tim Price)
Reid Reilich	....	craft service
Nancy L. Roth	....	location manager: New York (as Nancy Roth)
Timothy J. Toner	....	assistant: Mr. Kumble
Whitney J. Willard	....	post-production accountant
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services (uncredited)
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Elizabeth A. Bergman	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Kevin A. Canamar	....	set medic (uncredited)
Adam Francis	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Terry Goldman	....	assistant: Mr. Ottman (uncredited)
Paul Kruhm	....	location services: EastWest Locations (uncredited)
Christopher Lee	....	key assistant location manager (uncredited)
Chris Miller	....	technical consultant (uncredited)
Vernon Rodriquez	....	assistant parking coordinator (uncredited)
William Skeen	....	cello coach (uncredited)
Kevin Vasconcellos	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Cruel Productions LLC
• Newmarket Capital Group
• Original Film

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1999) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (France)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (Germany)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2007) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• V8 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Light Matters Inc. (digital effects)
• Pixel Envy (digital effects)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  animal activity monitoring
• Arista Records  soundtrack
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services
• Variety Cinema Catering  catering

Also Known As:

"Seduction Games" - Israel (English title)
"Sexual Provocation" - Belgium (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual dialogue and sexual situations involving teens, language and drug use

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Vietnamese | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Brazil:18 | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 (old rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #36155) | Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Malaysia:18SX | Germany:12 (cut TV version) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Philippines:PG-13 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:12 (new rating) | Mexico:B (re-rating) | Singapore:M18 (re-rating)

Filming Locations:

5th Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Neal H. Moritz contractually agreed to the film being rated R, and nothing less. Sony (the studio) agreed.

Goofs:

Continuity: Blaine's pile of marijuana changes size between shots.

Quotes:

Sebastian:Ohh well, duty calls. Dr. Greenbaum and her daughter should make for interesting entry.
Kathryn:Ohh, your journal. Could you be more queer?
Sebastian:Could you be more desperate to read it?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gossip Girl: Chuck in Real Life (#2.7)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Bittersweet Symphony

They're old enough to know better and too young to care!

I have recently been seeing a psychiatrist about a few troubles. In one of his sessions, he bought up about the movie Cruel Intentions, which I absolutely loved. He said he loved the start of the movie where the evil Sebastian says to the Psychologist `You have beautiful legs, I would love to photograph them'. This then sets the tone for one of the best teen films that the world has seen. Based on the movie Dangerous Liaisons, Cruel Intentions goes down as one of my top five favourite films of all-time.

A sex-obsessed rich boy Sebastian sets out to win his greatest "conquest" - a girl who has proclaimed in a Teen magazine that she will wait until marriage to lose her virginity. The teen is egged on by his sister, Catherine, an evil scheming girl in her own right. The two have a wager on whether Sebastian can achieve his conquest. If he wins, he gets a night of bliss with his stepsister, if she wins, she keeps his most prided possession, his Jaguar convertible!

Well this is a brilliant backstabbing, bitchy, love and hate war movie. I cannot remember a movie like it in my time. The theme of the movie was priceless. Having two rich hobnob kids toying with various people's emotions in their neighborhood was just great. In fact it is not at all silly to think that this does not happen in real life, because if you don't believe that then you are very naïve.

There are many people who need to be praised for this classic movie. Director Roger Kumble did a great job in bringing this movie to our screens. He added so many little `steamy' pieces to this movie that it was never going to fail. Then you have the producer Neal H. Moritz who also allowed this film to shine. He gave this film all the right production touches, which I can only praise.

Then you have the wonderful cast that was assembled for Cruel Intentions. The main star for this film would have to be the gorgeous Sarah Michelle Gellar. She was outstanding as the horrible Catherine. Her character while at times was extremely hard to like, she was almost too hard to not want to like. I mean she was every guy's fantasy. Sexually liberated (and not afraid to admit it), then all she wanted to do is screw up all her enemies at the same time. Then you have the patronising and ‘stud man' Sebastian, played by Hollywood hunk Ryan Philippe. His performance in this film was also first class. I thought his character was a lot more likable then Catherine's, but you could sometimes want to strangle him for the way he screws with people, just like his stepsister does, and then still seemingly gets more women dying to be with him.

Other cast members just help to make this film an extraordinary viewing experience. Reese Witherspoon is fantastic as the pure and innocent, Annette. She helps to balance the sour bitchy side of the cast, with her friendly almost sickening goody goody side. I am looking forward to seeing Witherspoon in the comedy, Legally Blonde, directed by new Australian director Robert Luketic. Selma Blair was also very good in her role as the dumb and very naïve Cecil. The kissing scene that she has with Gellar was one of the highlights of the film, with the kiss being voted the best onscreen kiss a few years ago.

Then this film has another great side to it, that of the soundtrack. It has so many great songs on it. Placebos tune `Every me, Every you' helps start this movie off, then you get songs such as Colorblind by Counting Crows and the classy, Bitter Sweet Symphony, by the Verve. This would have to be one of the world's most popular soundtracks from where I view it.

In conclusion, Cruel Intentions is a film I can say I love and that I can learn from. People in real life do use people and do hurt them. I know this because I was involved in such a scenario not so long ago. Nothing was ever happy until it was a fight and scrag. I will go as far to admit that I was confronted with a real life Catherine, a person who was such a goody goody on the outside, but the real person on the inside is a person that loves to cause trouble and will go out of her way to do it. Anyone who is like that is a real low-life in my view. Get swept up in the nasty love triangle, ‘Cruel Intentions'!

Rating: 5 Stars or 10/10