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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

    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
    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.
    dickcl

    A funny and entertaining romantic comedy

    A great story shot in Spokane, WA about a family member who cannot help but stretch the truth just to make it more entertaining. Join that to a mother looking for her lost son makes for a touching drama coupled with a romantic comedy.

    I taped this off HBO years ago and still watch it now and then.
    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.
    lgholston

    bit of trivia on Jeorge

    This is one of my mom's favorite movies - it is very sad that it was never released! I did see it in the past year on a cable network station like TBS or WGN - so someone has the rights to run it. Bit of trivia: the boy who played Jeorge now goes by Gabriele Macht. I have seen him on a few things like the movie "The Recruit" and Sex and the City - recognized him immediately. Haven't found a site that says why he dropped Swann. IMDb doesn't have "Why Would I Lie" in his credits either - not quite sure why he and Treat Williams won't admit to appearing in this funny movie! I do remember the movie quite well if someone wants a more thorough synopsis. I might even be able to find a copy of what I taped off of cable, too. I didn't get it from the very beginning, but pretty close to it.

    Here is Macht's IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0532683/

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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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