WHY WOULD I LIE?

US, 1980, 100 minutes, Colour.
Treat Williams, Lisa Eichhorn.
Directed by Larry Peerce.

Why Would I Lie is a romantic comedy, a blend of the tough and the sentimental. It was directed Larry Pearce, director of a range of movies from The Other Side of the Mountain series to Two Minute Warning as well as many telemovies. It was written by Peter Stone, better known for such thrillers as Charade and Arabesque. It is also a star vehicle for Treat Williams and Lisa Eichhorn, at the beginning of their screen careers. Williams continued as a good character actor/star during the 80s. Eichhorn appeared in some films - but not as memorably as in her first film, Yanks. The supporting cast includes Valerie Curtain, the screenwriter with Barry Levinson of such films as Best Friends, as The Social Worker. The film is full of implausibilities - but nicely done with sentiment and feeling.

1. Realistic romantic comedy drama? Fantasy?

2. The American settings, the small town, social work, families, poverty? The atmosphere of 1980 with the interest in domestic issues, psychology and therapy?

3. The title, Cleatus use of the phrase, Jeorge? The original novel called the Fabricator - and Cleatus fabricating stories? What people wanted to hear rather tha the facts?

4. Cleatus, his use of the phrase Why Would I Lie, his fabrications? With the psychiatrist, pleasing his brothers, the stories about his family life, tantalising the Psychiatrist with hints of incest? The inheritance and his mother's comment on his irresponsibility? The clashes with his sister? Brothers and their greed? His memories, especially of his father's death and funeral? His injury? Wearing the helmet to block out what he didn't want to hear? The job application, the supervisor, the tension between Cleatus and the supervisor? His cases, the interviews, telling stories, winning over the clients? The search for the mother and the sense of injustice about her treatment, the loss of her boy, calling him Jeorge with a J so that she could find him when adopted? His meeting the boy, the foster mother? Taking the boy away, taking him home, taking him out, the meals, the bonds, letting Jeorge think he was his father? Searching out the clues for finding Mary, the records, jail, the fellow prisoner in the diner? The therapy centre? Listening to the group, the friendship with Kay, her immediacy and lack of commitment, the sexual relationship? The tension with Amy? The outings with Kay and Jeorge? Family? The decision to go to search for the missing woman to give her son? His decision to sign over the money ~ and his keeping his brothers tense? The reconciliation with his sister and her hopes for the future? The final clash with Kay and Amy? Going home, telling Jeorge to tell the truth? Kay's arrival and the revelation, the happy ending and a future?

5. Walter and Paul, their relationship with Cleatus, he discovering that he was adopted, overhearing, keeping it to himself? Faith and her clashes with Cleatus, talking over matters, his urging her to make up outlandish stories- and it helping her to get free from the family? Her going to Colorado and being married?

6. Jeorge: the background of his mother's story, the foster mother and the bonds, going out with Cleatus calling him sir, food, toys and clothes? Play? The bond, seeing Cleatus as his father? His making up fabrications and challenging Cleatus? The friendship with Kay? The revisiting of the foster mother and his outlandish stories? Preparing to leave - and finding Kay and his mother?

7. Kay and her background, prison, injustice, the adoption? Amy's friendship and help, the sexual relationship and its hold on her? Her work and therapy? The sexual relationship with no commitments? Avoiding Cleatus? Happy with Jeorge? The clash with Amy and Cleatus, her wanting to break free? Coming at the end to say goodbye ~ and the discovery of her son?

8. The social work supervisor, her inhibitions, fears, the clashes with Cleatus, in love with him, the kiss - and his story about her reminding him of his sister? Her frustration?

9. The foster mother, her goodness, relationship with the boy, giving him up, the second visit, wanting to keep in touch?

10. Themes of family life, abuse in families, prison and backgrounds? The themes of truth, lying? Coincidences - and the happy ending?