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Why Would I Lie?

  • 1980
  • PG
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
324
YOUR RATING
Why Would I Lie? (1980)
ComedyDrama

Cletus is a compulsive liar, though he prefers the term 'fabrication' to 'lie.' When he becomes a social worker, he's assigned the case of a boy named Jeorge (with a 'J') who was taken from ... Read allCletus is a compulsive liar, though he prefers the term 'fabrication' to 'lie.' When he becomes a social worker, he's assigned the case of a boy named Jeorge (with a 'J') who was taken from his mother. Cletus sets out to reunite Jorge with his mother, but to do this, he must fabr... Read allCletus is a compulsive liar, though he prefers the term 'fabrication' to 'lie.' When he becomes a social worker, he's assigned the case of a boy named Jeorge (with a 'J') who was taken from his mother. Cletus sets out to reunite Jorge with his mother, but to do this, he must fabricate many a story to keep Jeorge from being adopted. In search of the mother, Cletus meet... Read all

  • Director
    • Larry Peerce
  • Writers
    • Hollis Hodges
    • Peter Stone
  • Stars
    • Treat Williams
    • Lisa Eichhorn
    • Gabriel Macht
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    324
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Larry Peerce
    • Writers
      • Hollis Hodges
      • Peter Stone
    • Stars
      • Treat Williams
      • Lisa Eichhorn
      • Gabriel Macht
    • 27User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations total

    Photos18

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    Top cast34

    Edit
    Treat Williams
    Treat Williams
    • Cletus
    Lisa Eichhorn
    Lisa Eichhorn
    • Kay
    Gabriel Macht
    Gabriel Macht
    • Jeorge
    • (as Gabriel Swann)
    Susan Heldfond
    • Amy
    Anne Byrne Hoffman
    Anne Byrne Hoffman
    • Faith
    Valerie Curtin
    Valerie Curtin
    • Mrs. Bok
    Jocelyn Brando
    Jocelyn Brando
    • Mrs. Crumpe
    Nicolas Coster
    Nicolas Coster
    • Walter
    Severn Darden
    Severn Darden
    • Dr. Barbour
    Sonny Carl Davis
    Sonny Carl Davis
    • Paul
    • (as Sonny Davis)
    Jane Burkett
    • Natalie
    Kay Cummings
    • Edith
    Mia Bendixsen
    • Thelma
    Ilene Kristen
    Ilene Kristen
    • Waitress
    Harriet Gibson
    • Mary Kalinsky
    Cynthia Hoppenfeld
    • Opel McCarthy
    Mitzi Hoag
    Mitzi Hoag
    • Mrs. Hayworth
    Natalie Core
    Natalie Core
    • Mrs. Gogle
    • Director
      • Larry Peerce
    • Writers
      • Hollis Hodges
      • Peter Stone
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews27

    6.0324
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    Featured reviews

    gadonnelly

    You can vote for the movie on Turner classics.com

    You can go to Turner Classics com and vote to have

    Why would i lie put on air or DVD. i have been trying to find the movie for years. I saw it back when it first came out on HBO. I became instant Treat Williams fan. I hope someone out there has a copy and is willing to make copies for us.

    Or will sell it on ebay. I hope you will all go and vote for it at Turner Classic. i would love to tell you what i liked about the movie. But all i can remember is that i liked it and treat Williams was really good. if i ever get to see it again , i will be happy to give a better comment on it. Thanks
    ljrseanfan

    First saw it on HBO and watched it over and over because the story was great and so uniquely funny. Too bad it hasn't been released to video or DVD.

    From the first time I saw the movie on HBO I had to find out about this new actor on the scene,Treat Williams. Reading every video guide for the past 10 years and nowhere was this movie listed. Mr. Williams did a wonderful job with the story and made you almost believe that lying wasn't such a bad thing after all. A great romance movie for a rainy afternoon but just our luck it isn't available. Too bad VHS and DVD movies weren't sold back in 1980. A bundle could have been made from Treat fans alone and just think of the royalties. Is there some reason this movie wasn't released to network television after it's run on HBO? Not even as a rental and I recall asking the guy at Blockbuster to check for all Treat Williams movies and this one was never listed as one of his credits.
    10queenofdenial1

    Why would I lie?

    I loved this movie and searched for it for a number of years. All I could ever find was the pal format. It was released in Pal format. So if you didn't have a Pal player you were out of luck. I bought the Pal format on ebay from someone in the UK for a high price thinking I would find a player, but that never happened. Someone did contact me after my sale and offered to sell me a DVD of the movie which I accepted right away, I watch the movie at least once or twice a month. It always makes me laugh! I fell in Love with Treat Williams the first time I saw Hair. I didn't know that Treat Williams doesn't like to admit he was in this wonderful movie. I have about everything he was ever in. I wish they would release some of the other wonderful movies of that time period.
    perlstein

    Where is the video?

    I loved this movie when I saw it in the movie theater, I've never seen it since then either on TV or on video, and I would love to have a copy of it! Please contact me if you have one.

    Thanks, ARNIE PERLSTEIN
    9bpotte

    This great film should be released on DVD

    This is a really well done movie that advances gradually toward a really "edge of your seat" ending. One reason why the ending is so exciting is that the characters have been carefully developed so that you care about them at the end. Add to that the superb performances of a thoughtful Lisa Eichhorn, a character who is maturing played by Treat Williams, and a wonderful child portrayal, and you have a movie that should sell on DVD. I've enjoyed watching Lisa Eichhorn every time I see her in a film. She doesn't give away her character in the first scene of the movie, but holds back some of it, making you watch closely to discover the type of person underneath the character's cautious facade. Most really good "romantic comedies" require characters that develop gradually. Otherwise they'd just be a comedy made of nothing but slapstick. I'd buy a copy of this movie if it was available!

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This is Gabriel Macht's first film.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Why Would I Lie?, Terror Train, Gloria, Private Benjamin (1980)

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Why Would I Lie??Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 8, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Trust Me
    • Filming locations
      • Spokane, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,175,855
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $52,473
      • Aug 10, 1980
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,175,855
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 45m(105 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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