Lies He Told

 Posted on August 21, 2024  |  9 minutes  |  1722 words  |  Larita Shotwell

Lies He Told (Mon. (17), 9-11 p.m., ABC) Filmed in Toronto by Jaffe/Braunstein Films Ltd. and Pebblehut Prods. Ltd. Executive producers, Yvonne E. Chotzen, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein; producer, Clara George; director, Larry Elikann; writers, Ronald Parker, Jacqueline Feather, David Seidler; story, Feather, Seidler; camera, Eric Van Haren Noman; editor, Ron Wisman; art director, Allan Crawley; sound, Peter Shewchuk; music, Jeff Beal; production designer, Carmi Gallo; casting, Shana Landsburg (U.S.), Clara Walker (Toronto). Cast: Gary Cole, Karen Sillas, Ron Lea, Nigel Benet, Linda Sorensen, Teddi Siddal, George R. Robertson, Linda Goranson, Leah Pinsent, Wendy Makkena, Rick Braggins, Margaret Fleming, Kevin Hare, Jason Jazrawy, Marcia Johnson, Shannon Lawson, Andre Mayers, Tom Melissis, Mark Melynick, Markus Parilo, Greg Pindar, Michael Rhoades, Pedro Salvin, Karen Waddell, Alisha Wiegers. Producer Clara George has turned out a crisp, attention-holding telefilm based partially on the true story of a military man who, making it look like he's dead, ditches his first wife and kids after meeting another woman. With a more-than-credible pair, Gary Cole and Karen Sillas, cast as the principals, "Lies He Told" is a sure winner. Alyson (Sillas), meeting Dave (Gary Cole) at a Halloween party, learns he's with a hush-hush military outfit that can't be whispered. Though he disappears after that first evening, she can't get him out of her mind --- and he's also crazy about her. In fact, everyone likes and admires secret warrior Dave: her father, her mother and her sister. He retires from the service and, though he's broke, he and Alyson marry. Her dad (George R. Robertson) lends him a good sum, and Alyson and Dave go into fixing up old houses to sell --- successfully. Since Alyson's working, Dave handles the books. Slowly she notices discrepancies and odd explanations about such things as his army separation pay, and she begins watching. Apparently culled from a factual experience, his history's partially true. He was a war hero who met with the President, and he's been decorated. But minor flaws crop up, and when he gets his backpay, he goes on a "secret mission" for the Army and brings back bundles of cash --- from banks he's held up. Other than that, he seems genuinely in love with Alyson. In a hotel cocktail bar, when a slinky woman (Leah Pinsent) invites him to her room , he abruptly declines. And he's a surefire combat trainer, as he demonstrates in an Army training sample. Small touches are terrific. In the opening, Dave and Alyson under Elikann's impressive direction play amorously but guardedly off one another. At a garden party he proves he's a hero by shimmying up a tree to rescue a balloon. The vidpic shifts back and forth between Greg and Alyson's wedding and his simultaneous military funeral as first wife Cindy (Teddi Sidall) accepts the folded flag. The first-rate teleplay boasts smart dialogue and shifts cleverly from Dave's supposed point of view to that of Alyson's. Cole's restrained and sharp as the duplicitous lover, and Sillas gives the generous, moral Alyson an all-too-human touch --- she's no fool, she's in love, but she won't be a victim. Wendy Makkena adds a spirited touch as Alyson's sister Patty, Linda Goranson shows real bite as Dave's mother. The production design by Carmi Gallo is superior, and Eric Van Haren Noman's camerawork is once again tops. Ron Wisman's editing is solid, as is Jeff Beal's varying score. ---Tony Scott

Lies He Told (Mon. (17), 9-11 p.m., ABC) Filmed in Toronto by Jaffe/Braunstein Films Ltd. and Pebblehut Prods. Ltd. Executive producers, Yvonne E. Chotzen, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein; producer, Clara George; director, Larry Elikann; writers, Ronald Parker, Jacqueline Feather, David Seidler; story, Feather, Seidler; camera, Eric Van Haren Noman; editor, Ron Wisman; art director, Allan Crawley; sound, Peter Shewchuk; music, Jeff Beal; production designer, Carmi Gallo; casting, Shana Landsburg (U.S.), Clara Walker (Toronto). Cast: Gary Cole, Karen Sillas, Ron Lea, Nigel Benet, Linda Sorensen, Teddi Siddal, George R. Robertson, Linda Goranson, Leah Pinsent, Wendy Makkena, Rick Braggins, Margaret Fleming, Kevin Hare, Jason Jazrawy, Marcia Johnson, Shannon Lawson, Andre Mayers, Tom Melissis, Mark Melynick, Markus Parilo, Greg Pindar, Michael Rhoades, Pedro Salvin, Karen Waddell, Alisha Wiegers. Producer Clara George has turned out a crisp, attention-holding telefilm based partially on the true story of a military man who, making it look like he’s dead, ditches his first wife and kids after meeting another woman. With a more-than-credible pair, Gary Cole and Karen Sillas, cast as the principals, “Lies He Told” is a sure winner. Alyson (Sillas), meeting Dave (Gary Cole) at a Halloween party, learns he’s with a hush-hush military outfit that can’t be whispered. Though he disappears after that first evening, she can’t get him out of her mind — and he’s also crazy about her. In fact, everyone likes and admires secret warrior Dave: her father, her mother and her sister. He retires from the service and, though he’s broke, he and Alyson marry. Her dad (George R. Robertson) lends him a good sum, and Alyson and Dave go into fixing up old houses to sell — successfully. Since Alyson’s working, Dave handles the books. Slowly she notices discrepancies and odd explanations about such things as his army separation pay, and she begins watching. Apparently culled from a factual experience, his history’s partially true. He was a war hero who met with the President, and he’s been decorated. But minor flaws crop up, and when he gets his backpay, he goes on a “secret mission” for the Army and brings back bundles of cash — from banks he’s held up. Other than that, he seems genuinely in love with Alyson. In a hotel cocktail bar, when a slinky woman (Leah Pinsent) invites him to her room , he abruptly declines. And he’s a surefire combat trainer, as he demonstrates in an Army training sample. Small touches are terrific. In the opening, Dave and Alyson under Elikann’s impressive direction play amorously but guardedly off one another. At a garden party he proves he’s a hero by shimmying up a tree to rescue a balloon. The vidpic shifts back and forth between Greg and Alyson’s wedding and his simultaneous military funeral as first wife Cindy (Teddi Sidall) accepts the folded flag. The first-rate teleplay boasts smart dialogue and shifts cleverly from Dave’s supposed point of view to that of Alyson’s. Cole’s restrained and sharp as the duplicitous lover, and Sillas gives the generous, moral Alyson an all-too-human touch — she’s no fool, she’s in love, but she won’t be a victim. Wendy Makkena adds a spirited touch as Alyson’s sister Patty, Linda Goranson shows real bite as Dave’s mother. The production design by Carmi Gallo is superior, and Eric Van Haren Noman’s camerawork is once again tops. Ron Wisman’s editing is solid, as is Jeff Beal’s varying score. —Tony Scott

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Lies He Told

Mon. (17), 9-11 p.m., ABC

  • Production: Filmed in Toronto by Jaffe/Braunstein Films Ltd. and Pebblehut Prods. Ltd. Executive producers, Yvonne E. Chotzen, Michael Jaffe, Howard Braunstein; producer, Clara George; director, Larry Elikann; writers, Ronald Parker, Jacqueline Feather, David Seidler; story, Feather, Seidler.
  • Crew: Camera, Eric Van Haren Noman; editor, Ron Wisman; art director, Allan Crawley; sound, Peter Shewchuk; music, Jeff Beal; production designer, Carmi Gallo; casting, Shana Landsburg (U.S.), Clara Walker (Toronto).
  • Cast: Cast: Gary Cole, Karen Sillas, Ron Lea, Nigel Benet, Linda Sorensen, Teddi Siddal, George R. Robertson, Linda Goranson, Leah Pinsent, Wendy Makkena, Rick Braggins, Margaret Fleming, Kevin Hare, Jason Jazrawy, Marcia Johnson, Shannon Lawson, Andre Mayers, Tom Melissis, Mark Melynick, Markus Parilo, Greg Pindar, Michael Rhoades, Pedro Salvin, Karen Waddell, Alisha Wiegers.

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