''Why Would I Lie?'' is a 1980 American comedy-drama film about a compulsive liar named Cletus ( Treat Williams). The film, which was directed by

Larry Peerce Lawrence Peerce (born April 19, 1930) is an American film and TV director whose work includes the theatrical feature ''Goodbye, Columbus (film), Goodbye, Columbus'' (1969), the early rock and roll concert film ''The Big T.N.T. Show'' (1965), ''On ...

and shot in

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the most populous city in eastern Washington and the county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It lies along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south o ...

, is based on the novel ''The Fabricator'' by Hollis Hodges.

Plot

Cletus Hayworth, a compulsive liar, is employed as a social worker. He tries to find a home for a young boy named Jorge and, in so doing, falls in love with a social worker, who unbeknownst to everyone is Jorge's mother.

Cast

* Treat Williams as Cletus Hayworth * Lisa Eichhorn as Kay Lindsey * Gabriel Macht as Jorge * Susan Heldfond as Amy Grower * Anne Byrne as Faith Hayworth * Valerie Curtin as Mrs. Bok * Jocelyn Brando as Mrs. Crumpe * Nicolas Coster as Walter Hayworth * Severn Darden as Dr. Ed Barbour * Sonny Davis as Paul Hayworth * Jane Burkett as Natalie * Kay Cummings as Edith * Mia Bendixsen as Thelma * Ilene Kristen as Waitress * Harriett Gibson as Mary Kalinsky * Cynthia Hoppenfeld as Opel McCarthy * Mitzi Hoag as Mrs. Hayworth * Natalie Core as Mrs. Gogle * Shirley Slater as Warden *

Jan D'Arcy Jan Therese D'Arcy is an American television and film actress born on June 18, 1939, in Oneida, New York, with a career spanning almost five decades. She is best known for playing List of Twin Peaks characters#Sylvia Horne, Sylvia Horne in ''Twin P ...

as Card Player * Marian Gants as Card Player

Reception

Janet Maslin of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' was not impressed: "It takes about three-quarters of an hour to figure out where ''Why Would I Lie?'' is going, and by that time it's clear the movie won't get there. ...First seen on his psychiatrist's couch, where he sports an antique coal miner's helmet, Cletus appears to be a cute, troubled guy in the '' Morgan!'' mold. It never becomes clear quite what he is, though. And before the audience even has time to get used to him, he has become involved in a convoluted plot that probably worked better on the page than it does on the screen. ...As directed by Larry Peerce, ''Why Would I Lie?'' isn't often funny, especially since Cletus's tall tales generally have a macabre ring. ...Mr. Williams can be charming, but he has none of the whimsical nature that might make Cletus's exploits believable."

Awards

*Nominee Best Comedy Picture - Young Artist Award *Nominee Best Young Actor - Young Artist Award ( Gabriel Macht)

References

External links

* * 1980 films 1980 comedy-drama films Films directed by Larry Peerce Films scored by Charles Fox American comedy-drama films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1980s English-language films 1980s American films English-language comedy-drama films {{1980s-US-film-stub