 Annette Bening went through several auditions for the role of the courtesan Émilie, but in the end the role went to Laura Benson.<ref></ref> Bening was auditioning for Milos Forman's adaptation of "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" at the same time, "Valmont", in which she would play the role of the Marquise de Merteuil.During production Malkovich had an affair with Pfeiffer.His six-year marriage to actress Glenne Headly ended shortly thereafter.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref>

The score of "Dangerous Liaisons" was written by the British film music composer George Fenton.