A troubled police detective (Michael Douglas) who has been up before internal affairs, after shooting some tourists, is investigating the murder of a retired rock star. The chief suspect is wealthy crime-writer Catharine Tramell (Sharon Stone) who was a lover of the deceased, and also described a similar murder in one of her bestsellers.
Curran is certain that a lie detector test that proves her innocent is wrong. But as he begins to dig his nails into clues, he more and more finds himself mesmerized by her. Nick loves the danger he feels in playing head games with her as she does with him. His life goes down the spiral: he begins smoking and drinking again, and becomes so infatuated with Tramell that he becomes even more determined
to prove her innocent.
Charge me with smoking
Fuck of the century
Official Michael Douglas website
Script
Release date: March 20, 1992
The movie was shot in San Francisco
Sharon Stone on Paul Verhoeven: “He loves me, I hate him”.
When news of the screenplay’s content began to leak out, gay groups picketed the film's sets in protest at its portrayal of bisexual characters as homicidal maniacs. Source / More (Book)
Verhoeven versus writer Joe Eszterhas: Look, I am the director, ja? And you are the writer? So, I am right and you are wrong, ja?
Scriptwriter Joe Eszteras was paid $3 million. An unheard amount of money.
The leg crossing scene was partly cut in the American release.
--SPOILER--
Many people are confused about who killed who. Director Verhoeven states that Catherine was the killer, and that she framed Beth. He also says he was confused as to why many people didn’t make the connection.