IMDb > Telling Lies in America (1997)
Telling Lies in America
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Telling Lies in America (1997) More at IMDbPro »

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Telling Lies in America -- US Theatrical Trailer from Banner
Telling Lies in America -- Open-ended Trailer from Banner

Overview

User Rating:
6.2/10   1,563 votes »
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Director:
Guy Ferland
Writer (WGA):
Joe Eszterhas (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Telling Lies in America on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 October 1997 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Drama | Music See more »
Tagline:
Dress sharp. Drive fast. Look cool. Laugh last. See more »
Plot:
Karchy (Brad Renfro) is a boy in school who has moved from Hungary to America in the 1960's. He is struggling... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win See more »
NewsDesk:
(8 articles)
DVD Playhouse--May 2012
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 7 May 2012, 3:57 PM, PDT)
Before They Were Famous… They Were in The X-Files
 (From Flickeringmyth. 28 February 2012, 8:33 AM, PST)
Lidell Entertainment Distributing The Collection and More!
 (From Dread Central. 12 December 2011, 2:57 PM, PST)
User Reviews:
Brad Renfro, RIP See more (24 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Kevin Bacon ... Billy Magic

Brad Renfro ... Karchy 'Chucky' Jonas

Maximilian Schell ... Dr. Istvan Jonas

Calista Flockhart ... Diney Majeski

Paul Dooley ... Father Norton

Jonathan Rhys Meyers ... Kevin Boyle

Luke Wilson ... Henry
Damen Fletcher ... Amos 'Blood Smith'
Jerry Swindall ... Andy 'Croak' Stas
K.K. Dodds ... Justine
James Kisicki ... Cecil Simms
J.J. Horna ... The Blind Kid
Ben Saypol ... Timmy Morelli

Tony Devon ... Danny Hogan
Rohn Thomas ... Sgt. Disapri
Joe Baka ... Det. Carpenter

Tuesday Knight ... WHK Receptionist
Dave Buckel ... WHK Newscaster

Matt Miller ... Asst. District Attorney
Jack Skelly ... Immigration Judge John J. Donnelly (as Jack Skelley)
Jane Jean Miller ... Groupie #1
Wendy Waltz ... Groupie #2
Angelique Osborne ... Giggly girl
Abdullah Bey ... Old man
Kevin Willigham ... Driver
Patrick White ... School Kid
Ron Lewis ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins

Billy Lockwood ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins (as Will Lockwood)
Christopher Jenning ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins
Phillip O'Rourke ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins
Niles River ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins
Daryl Trammer ... Musician: Blood Smith and the Tenderloins
Matt Bunner ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang

Tom Nagel ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang / Sock Hop Dancer
Tom Palmieri ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang / Sock Hop Dancer

John Sloan ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang
John Woyton ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang
Mike Ross ... Member of Kevin Boyle's Gang

Courtne Benson ... Sock Hop Dancer
Dottie Dixon ... Sock Hop Dancer
Ben Harvey ... Sock Hop Dancer
Lucas Haugh ... Sock Hop Dancer
Tjader France ... Sock Hop Dancer (as Tjader Jamal)
Stacey Woodson ... Sock Hop Dancer
Monica Reed ... Sock Hop Dancer
Renzy Parnell ... Sock Hop Dancer
Brendon Berns ... Sock Hop Dancer
Justin Leach ... Sock Hop Dancer
Matt McBride ... Sock Hop Dancer (as Matthew McBride)
Melanie Rademaker ... Sock Hop Dancer
Maureen Winston ... Sock Hop Dancer
Brooke Devereaux ... Sock Hop Dancer
Sunny Jenkins ... Sock Hop Dancer
Jennifer Nicolino ... Sock Hop Dancer
Molly McDougal ... Good Looking Girl at Diner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maggie Gibbons ... Girl in classroom (uncredited)
Brad Hoss ... Schoolboy (uncredited)
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Directed by
Guy Ferland 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Joe Eszterhas (written by)

Produced by
Fred C. Caruso .... co-producer (as Fred Caruso)
Naomi Eszterhas .... executive producer
Fran Rubel Kuzui .... producer
Kaz Kuzui .... co-executive producer
Mickey Liddell .... executive producer
Ben Myron .... producer
Brian Swardstrom .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Nicholas Pike 
 
Cinematography by
Reynaldo Villalobos 
 
Film Editing by
Jill Savitt 
 
Casting by
Susan Brown 
Emily Schweber 
 
Production Design by
James A. Gelarden  (as James Gelarden)
 
Set Decoration by
Sarah Young 
 
Costume Design by
Laura Bauer  (as Laura Cunningham)
 
Makeup Department
Roy Bryson .... key hair stylist
Jeannee Josefczyk .... key makeup artist
Mariella Kaufman .... makeup artist
Pamela Priest .... key hair stylist
Maxi Spisak .... makeup artist (as Maxi Spesak)
Sandi D. Verzi .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Kate Amer .... production manager
Robert Rothbard .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dennis T. Benatar .... first assistant director (as Dennis Benatar)
Regan Forman .... second assistant director
Matt Papp .... second second assistant director
Kahlil Pedizisai .... second second assistant director
Cynthia Slavens .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Terry Ball .... on-set dresser
Mychael Bates .... property master
George Blogna .... co-construction coordinator
Sue Brook .... painter
Paula D. Collins .... construction production assistant
Lynette Grabau .... construction production assistant
Matt Jennings .... carpenter
Bill Kingsley .... construction coordinator
Peter Lambros .... assistant property master
Mike Lehane .... on-set dresser
Ruth Loshe .... scenic artist
George McDougal .... carpenter
Russ Milner .... carpenter
Thomas H. Paul .... set designer (as Thomas Paul)
Jennifer Richeson .... painter
Mary Kay Stone .... lead person
Scott Swank .... on-set dresser (as Scott A. Swank)
Karen Usher .... art department coordinator
Mike Zitello .... carpenter
 
Sound Department
Jonathan Andrews .... sound mixer
Carmen Baker .... co-supervising sound editor (as Carmen Hocson Baker)
Mike Boudry .... adr recordist
Jim Brookshire .... sound editor
Jeanette Browning .... dubbing recordist (as Jeannette Browning)
Betty Burkhart .... assistant sound editor
Tim Chau .... sound designer
Tim Chau .... sound re-recording mixer
Tim Chau .... supervising sound editor
Christopher Flick .... supervising dialogue editor
Joan Giammarco .... supervising adr editor
Rich Green .... foley coordinator
Doug Jackson .... sound editor
Nils C. Jensen .... sound editor
Doc Kane .... adr mixer
Adam Kopald .... sound editor
Donald J. Malouf .... sound editor
Kenny McCann .... cable assistant
Mel Metcalfe .... sound re-recording mixer
Judy Nord .... pdl
Michele Perrone .... adr editor
Terry Porter .... sound re-recording mixer
Richmond Riedel .... assistant adr editor
Joan Rowe .... foley artist
Sean Rowe .... foley artist
Joel Trent .... boom operator
Scott Weber .... foley mixer
Dan Yale .... sound editor
Dean A. Zupancic .... sound re-recording mixer (as Dean Zupancic)
Jeffrey Gates .... sound recordist (uncredited)
V.B. Paravati .... sound transfer technician (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Cates .... second assistant camera
Tom Kiousis III .... electrician
Dennis Knight .... electrician
George Kohut .... camera operator
Scott W. Leftridge .... dolly grip (as Scott Leftridge)
Andrew McDowall .... first assistant camera
Frank McKeon .... company grip
Pat Meehan .... video playback operator
Russ Milner .... company grip
Lester Park .... electrician
Deborah Samuel .... still photographer
John 'Fest' Sandau .... gaffer (as John Sandau)
Jim 'J.T.' Tucker .... best boy grip
Roy Van Keuren .... electrician
Don Verba .... company grip
Joe 'Jody' Williams .... camera production assistant (as Jody Williams)
Russ Wulf .... best boy electric (as Russell Wulff)
Dennis Zoppe .... key grip
 
Casting Department
Marc Andreyko .... extras casting
Lynn Myers .... local casting (as Lynn Meyers)
Debra Secher .... casting associate
H. Spencer Young .... extras casting (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Driscoll .... set costumer
Heather Priest .... assistant costume designer
Michelle A. Sampson .... set costumer
Nancy Shaw .... set costumer
Barbara Shiff .... costume supervisor (as Barbara Schiff)
 
Editorial Department
Gary Burritt .... negative cutter
Andrew Loschin .... apprentice editor
Alain J. Romi .... assistant editor
Jim Schulte .... assistant editor
Jim Passon .... color timer (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Peter Afterman .... music supervisor
Julie East .... music engineer
Mark Green .... music editor
Giovanna Imbesi .... musician: piano (as Joyce Imbesi)
Michael Jay .... music editor
Andy Paley .... composer: additional score
Nicholas Pike .... musician: sync programmer
Michael Thompson .... musician: guitar
Elizabeth Wendel .... assistant music supervisor
Margaret Yen .... assistant music supervisor
 
Transportation Department
Jeff Blake .... driver
Dale Checovich .... transportation coordinator
Glenn Gibson .... driver
Tim Lewis .... driver
Greg Lipari .... picture car coordinator
Tom Litto .... driver
Nick Lytwynenko .... driver
Julio Machado .... driver
Mike Majewski .... driver
Nick Mandic .... driver
Pat McCartney .... driver
Terry Moore .... driver
Nick W. Pastrano .... driver (as Nick Pastrano)
Marc Scott .... driver
Ray Skender .... driver
Jim Steinbicker .... driver
Richie Summers .... transportation captain
Ray Truhlar .... driver
 
Other crew
Catherine Albers .... dialogue coach
Erick Baker .... stand-in
Cheech Bradford .... insurance
Brian Brown .... assistant chef
Jeanne Byrd .... script supervisor
Thomas Clark .... choreographer
Len Critcher .... assistant: Judy Sharinger
Joe Eszterhas .... presenter
Laurie Fisher .... executive: Kuzui Enterprises
Frank Fletcher .... location manager
Brian Fox .... stand-in
Gina Frosini .... office production assistant
Bernadette Gillota .... production coordinator
Karl Greenow .... stand-in
Matt Gregor .... office production assistant
Dennis Griesmer .... assistant production coordinator (as Denis M. Griesmer)
Fred Grossman .... production accountant
Mariann Grossman .... assistant accountant
Laura Grover .... production assistant: Andy Paley
John Haight .... studio teacher
Joe Hanna .... chef
Ebbins Harris .... clearance
Christine 'Crystal Hoeller .... assistant: Maximillian Schell
Mihaly Horvath Sr. .... dialogue consultant
Tony Hoty .... studio teacher
Richard Ingram .... assistant: Guy Ferland (as Richard 'Bruno' Ingram)
Elizabeth Knowle .... choreographer
Chip Kocel .... craft service production assistant
Jacqueline Lundquist .... local publicity liaison
Sean McDermott .... assistant: Ben Myron
Greg McDougall .... stand-in
Susan Mieras .... assistant: Kevin Bacon
Mike Miller .... craft service
Marilyn Munro .... assistant: Ben Myron
Tom Nagel .... stand-in
Michael Nicholson .... office production assistant
Jeff Preston .... stand-in
Everett Ray .... studio teacher
Michael Rochford .... location assistant
Albert G. Ruben .... insurance
Rebecca Russell .... alteration supervisor
Rondell Sarrett .... location assistant
Judy Sharinger .... completion supervisor
David Thal .... stand-in
Pan Theophylactos .... stand-in
D.J. Vaulton .... assistant: Brad Renfro
Michael Barnes .... financial legal services (uncredited)
Larry Garrison .... unit publicist (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Roger A. Budnick .... special thanks
Bob Clayton .... special thanks
Steve Cover .... special thanks: Ohio Film Commission
Leigh Davis .... special thanks: Cleveland Film Commission (as Lee Davis)
Jim Davison .... special thanks
S. Michael Franz .... special thanks (as Rev. S. Michael Franz)
George Gates .... special thanks
Carla Gold .... special thanks
Joan Kalbourn .... special thanks
Jeff Kinzbach .... special thanks
Tim Moore .... special thanks: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Norm N. Nite .... special thanks
Patricia O'Brien .... special thanks
Jim Pogras .... special thanks
Charles Scaravelli .... special thanks
Samuel Scaravelli .... special thanks
Peter Taylor .... special thanks: Cleveland Film Commission (as Peter Clark)
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
"Seventeen" - Japan (English title)
See more »
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sex related situations
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 (video premiere) | Hong Kong:IIA | Spain:T | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Iceland:L
Filming Locations:
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Company:
Banner EntertainmentSee more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
John Candy lobbied to play the role of Billy Magic. But Candy's agent convinced him not to pursue the part.See more »
Goofs:
Anachronisms: About two-thirds through the movie, when Karchy picks his girlfriend up at the store after (her) work, they walk down a handicap wheelchair ramp which didn't exist in the 1960's.See more »
Quotes:
Karchy Jonas:[sing while combing his hair] Hey, hey, what do you say... Karchy Jonas is coming your way...
Karchy Jonas:...How are you darlin'?
See more »
Soundtrack:
Medium RareSee more »

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
0 out of 1 people found the following review useful.
Brad Renfro, RIP, 16 January 2008
Author: Lee Eisenberg (eisenberg.lee@gmail.com) from Portland, Oregon, USA

Brad Renfro's untimely death brought this movie to mind. I haven't seen Joe Esterhasz's "Telling Lies in America" in a few years, but I remember that it was a good movie, Esterhasz's reputation notwithstanding.

It goes like this. Karchy Jonas (Renfro) is a Hungarian immigrant in Ohio in the early '60s. He has trouble fitting in with the world around him, partly due to his trouble pronouncing a "th" sound, and feels disenchanted with the Catholic church that he and his father Istvan (Maximilian Schell) attend. But when he hooks up with DJ Billy Magic (Kevin Bacon), his luck changes...with some strings attached.

I interpret this movie as sort of the flip side of "American Graffiti". In that case, they were all the same ilk and all fit in with everything. In this case, Karchy tries to fit in but has trouble doing it, and so his only option is to hook up with the shady Billy. More than just a nostalgia piece - though there are some oldies - we see Karchy's inner conflict between his desire to be a modern American, and trying to maintain his ties with his past.

Overall, I recommend this one. I think that it would have been kind of fun to play that trick with the confession booth. And just remember what people tell you about Spanish flower.

Also starring Calista Flockhart.

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