recommended

Excellent, a Must See

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

This is a very interesting TV film about a Judge, James Farentino, (Jonathan Morris) who gets involved with a hooker in a hotel room and all kinds of trouble is created for Jonathan Morris who is also dating an Assistant District Attorney, Victoria Principal, (Joanne Dawson) who he is very much in love with and she loves him also. There is a trial held and Jonathan and Joanne have to provided their experience in bringing to trial a murder which happened to a prostitute. There becomes a conflict of interest in this murder trial and some very dark secrets are revealed in this court room. I should aid that Jonathan Morris is considering running as a Senator from the State of California and is very well liked and admired. This is a very good murder mystery that involves a troubled Judge. Enjoy.

Sometimes unrealistic happenings in the criminal justice system, but quite entertaining. Especially good for a made for TV movie. Victoria Principal and James Farentino are both excellent actors, and the supporting cast wasn't bad. I'd recommend Naked Lie to anyone who is looking to be entertained and doesn't sweat the small stuff. If your into having all the i's dotted and t's crossed and having everything happen the way it would in real life,I'd pass on this one.The defendant didn't appear to be the type to choose the profession he has, but then who knows; I'm not sure what type he should be. Same goes for the victim; too glamorous to be a member of the world's oldest profession.

Executive produced by Victoria Principal, she is San Diego Assistant District Attorney Joanne Dawson, having an affair with Judge Jonathan Morris (James Farentino) who has accidently murdered a prostitute Mary Kyle (Bonnie Burroughs) and injured her blackmailing pimp Jack Ross (Douglas Roberts). Ross is arrested for the murder of Mary, with Jonathan the presiding judge, and Joanne prosecuting. However weaknesses in her case finally allow her to learn the truth about Jonathan's involvement.Principal has multiple sex scenes with Farentino, with one suggesting the bondage and discipline he presumably gets from prostitutes, but it isn't until Jonathan is found out by Joanne that Farentino breaks through his reserve towards her. Principal has the presence to look comfortable in a courtroom, can stare down Berger when she doesn't agree with him, snaps an angry impulsive `shut up', and delivers the damning evidence in court with a slow sadness.The teleplay by Timonthy Wurtz, Glenn M Benest and John Robert Bensink give Joanne an annoying sidekick in Andy Fensinger, and plot contrivances like Ross not identifying Jonathan the moment he sees him in court, and has Joanne provide a `perfect match sample' of Jonathan's hair taken from her bed. Joanne is shown to collect stray cats but one gasps at the the way she throws one out of her way when she is busy making love with Jonathan, perhaps a prophetic moment. There is one amusing line of dialogue, between Joanne and a prostitute Jonathan has seen. Joanne asks `Any chance your name Sylvia', to which she replies `That's what they call me. And they always call me'.Director Richard Colla uses split screen for various telephone conversations, but otherwise his pacing is plodding, even if he does complement Principal's beauty.