The Cheat
Directed by George Abbott
Harry Hervey from a silent film script by Hector Turbull
1931/US
Paramount Pictures
IMDb page
First viewing/Criterion Channel
“If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stake, and the quitting time.” – Chinese proverb
This solid melodrama features a rare film performance by Tallulah Bankhead with good acting all around.
Elsa Carlyle (Bankhead) is a compulsive gambler who is very in love with her husband Jeffrey (Harvey Stephens). Hubby is a wheeler dealer in the business world. He has a few projects pending and has asked Elsa to rein in her spending for a while. This proves to be impossible for Elsa. She loses $5,000 at the tables and offers her creditor a double or nothing bet on picking the high card from a deck. She now owes him $10,000. It as if the universe is trying to tell her something but she doesn’t listen.
She meets oriental art collector Hardy Livingston and he comes on to her strong. The creditor starts pressing for his money. Elsa steals the money from the charitable club of which she is treasurer. But before paying of her debt, she invests the money in a “sure thing”. Elsa is now $20,000 in debt. The club doesn’t find out right away.
Hardy continues to make advances. He talks her into wearing a very expensive jeweled Siamese costume to a party. Finally, he offers to give her $10,000 if she will give him what he wants – and we all know what that is. Will Elsa be able to break her losing streak? I will stop here. With Charles Middleton (Ming the Magnificent) as a defense attorney.
I really enjoyed this one, mainly for the acting. It’s a strange story, originally made as a silent in 1915 by Cecil B. DeMille. In the former film, the art collector part was played by Sessue Hayakawa and was an Burmese ivory trader. I’m glad this one changed the race of the cad. Bankhead looks really beautiful. The film is currently available on YouTube for free.
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