Lies Before Kisses
Encyclopedia
Lies Before Kisses is a 1991
television film directed by Lou Antonio
. The thriller, starring Jaclyn Smith
and Ben Gazzara
, focuses on the trial against a successful businessman, who has allegedly murdered a call girl as a consequence for a blackmailing incident.
) and successful businessman Grant's (Ben Gazzara
) daughter Abby (Laura Dobbin). A seemingly happy housewife, Elaine is shocked to overhear a romantic phone conversation of Grant and a 20-year-old girl. Encouraged by her best friend Katherine Thomas (Penny Fuller
), Elaine confronts her husband, who claims that the affair was nothing more but a one-night stand
with a call girl
whom he met at a surprise party for his son from an earlier marriage, Ross (Greg Evigan
). Devastated, Elaine considers leaving her husband, but Katherine convinces her to try and forgive him. Elaine tries to get even by starting an affair herself, but finally can not go through with it and returns to Grant.
Life seems to turn to normal, until one day Grant runs into the call girl, Adrianne Arness (Lisa Rinna
), and pictures are taken of their meeting. The pictures, along with photos of a bruised Adrianne, are sent to Elaine. Grant is able to make Elaine believe that Adrianne is setting her up, and inspires her to contact an old family friend, Sonny (Nick Mancuso
) to investigate Adrianne on her background and motives. With some difficulty, Sonny gets into her file, and claims that Adrianne is not a serious threat, considering her lack of intention to inform the police. His claims prove wrong though, because sometime later Adrianne sues Grant for abuse. When Adrianne offers to drop the case in exchange for $50,000, Grant gives into the demand and gives her a late visit to hand over the money.
The next day, Adrianne is found murdered with the money missing, and Grant becomes the prime suspect. During trial, Ross testifies against his father, and claims that he was battered by Grant as a child. Elaine believes that these claims are lies as a way to avenge his father for marrying a woman (Elaine) the same age as himself. Another claim includes Grant's interest in sadomasochism, which Elaine dismisses as well. Nevertheless, she is hurt by all the allegations, and seeks comfort with Sonny, with whom she engages in a sexual affair.
The viewer learns that Ross made the picture of Grant and Adrianne together, and that Elaine has been wanting to ruin Grant's life since finding out about his betrayal. While playing his supporting wife, Elaine conspires with Ross to have Grant convicted for a crime he did not commit. This not only includes a false testimony on Ross's behalve, but also having pictures taken of a battered Adrianne, and sending them to the police. During sex with Elaine, Ross admits that he has killed Adrianne due to her unwillingness to keep up the conspiracy. Elaine and Ross's eventual plan is to take over the halve of Grant's business and be wealthy forever.
Meanwhile, Grant announces his resignation from the company. Sonny tries to convince Elaine to leave her husband to be with him, but Elaine assures him that she could never abandon her support for Grant. Nevertheless, Sonny is encouraged to furtherly investigate the case, and he goes to confront Ross on his multiple lies. Ross feels threatened and forces Elaine to keep Sonny off his back. The next day, an anonymous tip considering the whereabouts of the $50,000 leads to a house investigation of Elaine and Grant's summer house.
Meanwhile, Sonny has found out that Ross was at Adrianne's place when she was murdered, and orders a house warrant to collect prove for it. As expected, he finds the evidence, and Ross is quickly arrested. Ross is aware that Elaine has set him up, though, because he has cleaned the apartment before the police arrived, and only Elaine could have planted the evidence. After bail, he confronts her, but Elaine assures him that no evidence will ever lead to her. Elaine is unaware, though, that Ross had Sonny hidden in the room, who hears Elaine's entire confession and conspiracy. Elaine attempts to seduce him in order not to take a fall, and claims that Ross is responsible for the outlet of the conspiracy. Sonny dismisses her, though, and announces to make sure to destroy her life, like she did with Grant.
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
television film directed by Lou Antonio
Lou Antonio
Lou Antonio is an American actor and TV director best known for performing in the films Cool Hand Luke and America, America...
. The thriller, starring Jaclyn Smith
Jaclyn Smith
Jacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
and Ben Gazzara
Ben Gazzara
-Early life:Gazzara was born Biagio Anthony Gazzara in New York City, the son of Italian immigrants Angelina and Antonio Gazzara, who was a laborer and carpenter. Gazzara grew up on New York's tough Lower East Side. He actually lived on E. 29th Street and participated in the drama program at...
, focuses on the trial against a successful businessman, who has allegedly murdered a call girl as a consequence for a blackmailing incident.
Plot
The film opens at the birthday party of Elaine (Jaclyn SmithJaclyn Smith
Jacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
) and successful businessman Grant's (Ben Gazzara
Ben Gazzara
-Early life:Gazzara was born Biagio Anthony Gazzara in New York City, the son of Italian immigrants Angelina and Antonio Gazzara, who was a laborer and carpenter. Gazzara grew up on New York's tough Lower East Side. He actually lived on E. 29th Street and participated in the drama program at...
) daughter Abby (Laura Dobbin). A seemingly happy housewife, Elaine is shocked to overhear a romantic phone conversation of Grant and a 20-year-old girl. Encouraged by her best friend Katherine Thomas (Penny Fuller
Penny Fuller
Penny Fuller is an American actress.Born in Durham, North Carolina, Fuller attended Northwestern University in Illinois. She then went to New York City to make a name for herself on Broadway...
), Elaine confronts her husband, who claims that the affair was nothing more but a one-night stand
One-night stand
Originally, a one-night stand was a single theatre performance, usually by a guest performer on tour, as opposed to an ongoing engagement. Today, however, the term is more commonly defined as a single sexual encounter, in which neither participant has any intention or expectation of a relationship...
with a call girl
Call girl
A call girl or female escort is a sex worker who is not visible to the general public; nor does she usually work in an institution like a brothel, although she may be employed by an escort agency...
whom he met at a surprise party for his son from an earlier marriage, Ross (Greg Evigan
Greg Evigan
Gregory Ralph "Greg" Evigan is an American actor best known for the TV series B.J. and the Bear, My Two Dads, P.S. I Luv U and TekWar.-Personal life:...
). Devastated, Elaine considers leaving her husband, but Katherine convinces her to try and forgive him. Elaine tries to get even by starting an affair herself, but finally can not go through with it and returns to Grant.
Life seems to turn to normal, until one day Grant runs into the call girl, Adrianne Arness (Lisa Rinna
Lisa Rinna
Lisa Deanna Rinna is an American television host and actress. She is known for her roles as Billie Reed on Days of our Lives, Taylor McBride on Melrose Place, and most recently as the host of SoapNet's Soap Talk.-Acting:...
), and pictures are taken of their meeting. The pictures, along with photos of a bruised Adrianne, are sent to Elaine. Grant is able to make Elaine believe that Adrianne is setting her up, and inspires her to contact an old family friend, Sonny (Nick Mancuso
Nick Mancuso
Nicodemo Antonio Massimo "Nick" Mancuso is a Canadian cinema and stage actor.-Career:Mancuso was born in Mammola, Calabria, Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1956...
) to investigate Adrianne on her background and motives. With some difficulty, Sonny gets into her file, and claims that Adrianne is not a serious threat, considering her lack of intention to inform the police. His claims prove wrong though, because sometime later Adrianne sues Grant for abuse. When Adrianne offers to drop the case in exchange for $50,000, Grant gives into the demand and gives her a late visit to hand over the money.
The next day, Adrianne is found murdered with the money missing, and Grant becomes the prime suspect. During trial, Ross testifies against his father, and claims that he was battered by Grant as a child. Elaine believes that these claims are lies as a way to avenge his father for marrying a woman (Elaine) the same age as himself. Another claim includes Grant's interest in sadomasochism, which Elaine dismisses as well. Nevertheless, she is hurt by all the allegations, and seeks comfort with Sonny, with whom she engages in a sexual affair.
The viewer learns that Ross made the picture of Grant and Adrianne together, and that Elaine has been wanting to ruin Grant's life since finding out about his betrayal. While playing his supporting wife, Elaine conspires with Ross to have Grant convicted for a crime he did not commit. This not only includes a false testimony on Ross's behalve, but also having pictures taken of a battered Adrianne, and sending them to the police. During sex with Elaine, Ross admits that he has killed Adrianne due to her unwillingness to keep up the conspiracy. Elaine and Ross's eventual plan is to take over the halve of Grant's business and be wealthy forever.
Meanwhile, Grant announces his resignation from the company. Sonny tries to convince Elaine to leave her husband to be with him, but Elaine assures him that she could never abandon her support for Grant. Nevertheless, Sonny is encouraged to furtherly investigate the case, and he goes to confront Ross on his multiple lies. Ross feels threatened and forces Elaine to keep Sonny off his back. The next day, an anonymous tip considering the whereabouts of the $50,000 leads to a house investigation of Elaine and Grant's summer house.
Meanwhile, Sonny has found out that Ross was at Adrianne's place when she was murdered, and orders a house warrant to collect prove for it. As expected, he finds the evidence, and Ross is quickly arrested. Ross is aware that Elaine has set him up, though, because he has cleaned the apartment before the police arrived, and only Elaine could have planted the evidence. After bail, he confronts her, but Elaine assures him that no evidence will ever lead to her. Elaine is unaware, though, that Ross had Sonny hidden in the room, who hears Elaine's entire confession and conspiracy. Elaine attempts to seduce him in order not to take a fall, and claims that Ross is responsible for the outlet of the conspiracy. Sonny dismisses her, though, and announces to make sure to destroy her life, like she did with Grant.
Cast
- Jaclyn SmithJaclyn SmithJacquelyn Ellen "Jaclyn" Smith is an American actress and businesswoman. She is best-known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run...
as Elaine Sanders, young wife of Grant - Ben GazzaraBen Gazzara-Early life:Gazzara was born Biagio Anthony Gazzara in New York City, the son of Italian immigrants Angelina and Antonio Gazzara, who was a laborer and carpenter. Gazzara grew up on New York's tough Lower East Side. He actually lived on E. 29th Street and participated in the drama program at...
as Grant Sanders, a successful businessman - Greg EviganGreg EviganGregory Ralph "Greg" Evigan is an American actor best known for the TV series B.J. and the Bear, My Two Dads, P.S. I Luv U and TekWar.-Personal life:...
as Ross Sanders, Grant's son from an earlier marriage - Nick MancusoNick MancusoNicodemo Antonio Massimo "Nick" Mancuso is a Canadian cinema and stage actor.-Career:Mancuso was born in Mammola, Calabria, Italy and immigrated to Canada in 1956...
as Sonny, private investigator and Sanders family friend - Penny FullerPenny FullerPenny Fuller is an American actress.Born in Durham, North Carolina, Fuller attended Northwestern University in Illinois. She then went to New York City to make a name for herself on Broadway...
as Katherine Thomas, Elaine's best friend - James KarenJames KarenJames Karen is an American character actor of Broadway, film and television.-Life and career:Karen was born Jacob Karnofsky in Wilkes-Barre, in northeastern Pennsylvania, the son of Russian-born Jewish immigrants Mae and Joseph H. Karnofsky, a produce dealer. As a young man, Karen was encouraged...
as Arthur Bridges, Sanders' lawyer - William Allen YoungWilliam Allen YoungWilliam Allen Young is an American actor best known for playing a role of Frank Mitchell on UPN's Moesha in 1996 and directing a few episodes of the show, and made a guest appearance on UPN's The Parkers as Frank Mitchell...
as Daniel - Jim Antonio as Richard
- Jean HaleJean HaleJean Hale is an American actress.In films, Hale played Miriam Stark in Taggart , Cheryl Barker in The Oscar , Myrtle in The St. Valentine's Day Massacre and Lisa in In Like Flint...
as Veronica - Clyde KusatsuClyde KusatsuClyde Kusatsu is a U.S. actor.Kusatsu was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he attended ʻIolani School. Kusatsu began acting in Honolulu summer stock, and after studying theatre at Northwestern University, started to make his mark on the small screen in the mid-1970s...
as Lieutenant Hand, Sonny's boss - Lisa RinnaLisa RinnaLisa Deanna Rinna is an American television host and actress. She is known for her roles as Billie Reed on Days of our Lives, Taylor McBride on Melrose Place, and most recently as the host of SoapNet's Soap Talk.-Acting:...
as Adrianne Arness, call girl and one-time mistress of Grant - Sara Rose Johnson as Sarah Sanders, daughter of Grant and Elaine
- Laura Dobbin as Abby Sanders, daughter of Grant and Elaine