The Cheat

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The Cheat

1915,

55m,

Drama

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Watchlist

90%

10 Reviews

Tomatometer

47%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

47%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Edith Hardy uses charity funds for Wall Street investments in hopes of buying some new gowns. She loses all the money and borrows from wealthy oriental Tori. When her husband gives her the amount she borrowed, Tori won't take it back, branding her shoulder with a Japanese sign of his ownership.

Fred Schader

Variety

Nov 12, 2019

There are some excellent lighting effects and the work of Sessue Hayakawa is so far above the acting of Miss Ward and Jack Dean that he really should be the star in the billing for the film.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Nov 12, 2019

[The Cheat] remains interesting today not only for its gripping vulgarity but also for the spectacular innovations in dramatic lighting De Mille created with his cameraman, Alvin Wyckoff.

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NYT Staff

New York Times

Mar 25, 2006

The picture is much above the average of its kind. But is there any more excuse for this sensational trash than for the old-fashioned melodrama in which half the characters were killed off at the end of the play?

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Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Dec 2, 2022

Their less-than-fully-consensual yet very proto-50 Shades relationship made hearts flutter around the world—mostly due to Hayakawa, who refused to ham up his broadly written, villainous role...

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Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Nov 12, 2019

[Cecil B. DeMille] understands the cinematic zones where the dueling impulses of prudery and titillation meet.

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Scott Nash

Three Movie Buffs

Nov 12, 2019

3/4

Compared to many other films of the period, this one comes across as rather modern, at least in some respects.

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Jan 26, 2019

Th best, GREATEST thrilling movie ever made!

Kylo R

Mar 12, 2017

One of the first major works of Cecile B. DeMille who went on to direct the Ten Commandments in 1956. An electrifying story of a young socialite (Fannie Ward) who gambles $10,000 from the Red Cross & loses it & strikes a deal with an Ivory Merchant. For 1915 this films pulls all the punches & would have been a controversial film in its day. Most famous is the scene where Fannie Ware unable to pay back the Ivory Merchant he brands her with a Hot Spoke. Made the career of Sessue Hayawaka largely known as the Japanese General from Bridge on the River Kwai. This film was a sensation in its Day & although 102 years old this year still is quite intriguing.

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Cecil B. DeMille

Director

Fannie Ward

Edith Hardy

Jack Dean

Dick Hardy

Sessue Hayakawa

Tori

James Neill

Jones

Jack Yutaka Abbe

Tori's Valet

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Synopsis

Edith Hardy uses charity funds for Wall Street investments in hopes of buying some new gowns. She loses all the money and borrows from wealthy oriental Tori. When her husband gives her the amount she borrowed, Tori won't take it back, branding her shoulder with a Japanese sign of his ownership.

Director: Cecil B. DeMille
Producer: Jesse L. Lasky
Screenwriter: Jeanie Macpherson, Hector Turnbull
Distributor: Kino Video, Timeless Multimedia, Image Entertainment Inc., Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, Timeless Video Inc., Grapevine Video, Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co.
Genre: Drama
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 12, 1915, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 2, 2016
Runtime: 55m
Aspect Ratio: Academy (1.33:1)

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