The Cheat (Cecil B. DeMille, 1915): USA

Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed on DVD.

An early Cecil B. DeMille film, The Cheat brought him recognition and success early on in his career, but today it does not hold up well despite its reputation as an important silent film.

Edith Hardy (Fannie Ward), the wife of stock broker Richard Hardy (Jack Dean), cannot stop spending his money in her efforts at social climbing. When her husband cracks down on her spending she embezzles money from the Red Cross charity fund of which she is the treasurer so that she can make an investment of her own hoping to double her money so her rampant spending can continue. When her investment is wiped out she risks humiliation and social ruin. Asian merchant Haku Arakau (Sessue Hayakawa) offers to help by lending her the money in exchange for a night with her and she accepts. When her husband’s investment comes through she is able to pay Haku back, but he doesn’t take it too lightly that she is reneging on the deal.

The story is interesting and the film’s famous branding scene is intriguing, but the overly melodramatic acting and unlikeable characters hinder the film to the point of disinteresting the viewer. When the infamous branding scene finally comes it just doesn’t seem shocking or to have the impact it should because Edith is such an unlikeable character and so over played by Fannie Ward that we really don’t care that she is branded.

Ward bounces around, exaggerates her movements, and makes darting crazy eyes all to get her point across. The verdict is far too much acting, even for a silent film. To make matters worse, Ward’s costumes all seem big around the body making her walk around like a big puff ball.

Jack Dean has a rather uninteresting role as the all too forgiving, lovesick husband and struggles when his character has to show emotion in the film’s second half, leaving Sessue Hayakawa as Haku Arukau as the only one to show any hint of a good performance. He is much more restrained and seems to use his glances and gestures more economically and to greater effect. It is a shame he has to act opposite Ward in most of his scenes.

With the climax coming midway through the film the rest of it unfolds in a rather dull and unrealistic courtroom trial the finale of which is chaotic and very unsatisfying. This is one silent film that you really don’t need to see.