SWEET LIES

US, 1988, 86 minutes, Colour.
Treat Williams, Joanna Pacula, Julianne Philips.
Directed by Nathalie Delon.

Sweet Lies is a piece of romantic fluff, permissive style, from French director Nathalie Delon. The film has a basically American cast and was filmed in English. The Paris locations are an advantage. Treat Williams is a private detective who becomes the victim of a bet by three women. He finally realises that he is the victim and tries to counter-trick the women. Joanna Pacula and Julianne Phillips are the international actresses portraying the women who are trying to control Williams.

The film is full of picture postcard and glossy magazine style photography and popular magazine plot.

1. Romantic drama? Comedy? The battle of the sexes? Sexuality and relationships, commitment?

2. The Paris locations, the apartments, the streets, nightclubs? The river and its beauty? The sewers? The atmosphere of Paris? Musical score?

3. The title, in relationship to the women, in relationship to Peter? Ironies?

4. Peter, the self-confident American? His surveillance work and the insurance frauds? His skill at his work, pursuits, photographs? His moving into the apartment? Relationship with the owner? His daughter and her flirting? His becoming the victim of the bet? The approach of Joel, knocking him down, looking after him? Her grandmother? The meetings, the relationship, her tantalising him, the sexual liaison? His meeting with Dixie, throwing herself into the river, his rescue, taking her home? Listening to her story about the circus? Relationship, outings, sexual liaison? The complications, the farcical aspects, especially with Lisa in the room? Joel's arrival, Dixie ringing during the night and taking him through the sewers? His visiting the home, discovering the photo? His counter-plan, standing up the two women? Bradshaw and her control, his finally taking the photos, her approval and taking him back to America? His memories of the visit to Paris?

5. Joel, suave style, controlled? The bet, knocking Peter down, looking after him? Moving in and out of his life? The affair? Her relationship with Dixie and Lisa? Peter leaving her during the night? Her home, her grandmother? Her being tricked? Stood up? Dixie, more genuinely attracted, the affair? Throwing herself in the river, ringing him during the night, the trek through the sewers, under the opera house? Her finding out the truth? The parting from Peter? Lisa, her age, flirting, part of the bet? The arrival of the next victim?

6. Bradshaw, her company, getting the photos? The insurance fraud, in the wheelchair, playing off the two women - and paralleling Peter's experience?

7. Romantic scenes, comic and farcical scenes? A piece of romantic fluff - permissive style?