Sexual power, depravity, cruelty and deceit. You get more bang for your bucks - no pun intended - with Dangerous Liaisons (Pearl, 9.30pm). This film is pretty, well-acted (particularly by Michelle Pfeiffer, who sizzles) and more than does justice to Choderlos de Laclos' original novel, which became the succes de scandale of Paris when published in 1782.
Dangerous Liaisons is not all debauchery and amorality. It is less about sex than it is about psychology, with John Malkovich and Glenn Close as two monsters of the pre-revolution aristocracy, former lovers, who spend their empty days planning seductions and vengeance on everyone.
Close makes Malkovich a proposition: if he deflowers Cecile (Uma Thurman), the 16-year future wife of another aristocrat, she will gratefully reward him with her favours. Malkovich, spoiled for choice, instead devotes his time to the greater challenge of seducing Madame de Tourvel (Pfeiffer) - a highly moral, married and convent-bred young woman.
This cool dissection of sexual feeling is a handsome and intelligent piece of work. Pfeiffer is a revelation, Malkovich an expert and Thurman as cool as ice. Any problem lies with Close who, despite her talent, is devoid of sex appeal.
The mini-series Intruders (World, 9.30pm), which starts tonight and finishes tomorrow, and is therefore about as mini as they come, is based on various accounts of alien abductions. You know the sort of thing: men with egg-shaped heads wearing silver jumpsuits, complex optical surgery performed on a Connecticut housewife who insists she has never been in hospital. Richard Crenna plays the psychiatrist who sorts fact from fiction. Look out also for Ben Vereen and Steven Berkoff.
And look out for Helen Mirren, playing a ship's hostess, in S.O.S. Titanic (World, 12.40am). David Janssen is the Titanic's captain and Ian Holm the managing director of White Star Line, the ship's owners.