IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
A venal, spoiled stockbroker's wife impulsively embezzles $10,000 from the charity she chairs and desperately turns to a Burmese ivory trader to replace the stolen money.A venal, spoiled stockbroker's wife impulsively embezzles $10,000 from the charity she chairs and desperately turns to a Burmese ivory trader to replace the stolen money.A venal, spoiled stockbroker's wife impulsively embezzles $10,000 from the charity she chairs and desperately turns to a Burmese ivory trader to replace the stolen money.
- Awards
- 1 win
Arthur H. Williams
- Courtroom Judge
- (as Judge Arthur H. Williams)
Raymond Hatton
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Dick La Reno
- Courtroom Spectator
- (uncredited)
Lucien Littlefield
- Hardy's Secretary
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Cecil B. DeMille(uncredited)
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBecause of a protest from the Japanese Association of Southern California, Sessue Hayakawa's name and nationality was changed for the 1918 re-release. Originally he was a Japanese called Hishuru Tori; in the re-issue he was a Burmese called Haka Arakau.
- GoofsAccording to the date on the check, the shooting occurred on September 17th. However, the next day's newspaper which reports the crime is dated April 27th.
- Quotes
Edith Hardy: The same old story - my husband objects to my extravagance - and you.
- Crazy creditsFannie Ward's name appears above the title. The other two principal actors (as well as Ward) are credited in inter-titles with their character names as they appear in the movie.
- Alternate versionsRe-released on 24 November 1918, with Hayakawa's character changed from being Japanese with name Hishuru Tori, to Burmese with name Haka Arakau.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The House That Shadows Built (1931)
Featured review
Sex, Race, and Sadism! (with Fannie Ward, Sessue Hayakawa, and Cecil B. DeMille)
"East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet." Fannie Ward (as Edith Hardy) is an extravagant socialite who is told by husband Jack Dean (as Dick Hardy) she must cut down on spending, as he meets with business failures; instead, she takes $10,000 from the Red Cross fund she is entrusted with, and gambles it on a "sure thing" - sure enough, she loses the money. Desperate to replace the money, Ms. Ward turns to wealthy party host Sessue Hayakawa (as Tori aka Arakau), who is secretly attracted to her. Mr. Hayakawa gives Ward the money, but wants a sexual encounter the next night. Then, Mr. Dean makes a Stock Market killing, and is rich again. Ward takes $10,000 to pay off Hayakawa, but he won't bargain...
This is a lurid melodrama, filled with sex, race, and sadism; but, it is redeemed by several factors. Cecil B. DeMille directed artfully; his use of light and shadows is notable. The portrayals of Fannie Ward (as "The Cheat" Edith Hardy) and Sessue Hayakawa (as Tori aka Arakau) are among the finest of the era. You'll want to watch this film with the remote nearby, as there are a few scenes you may want to see re-played immediately.
The Japanese community objected, understandably, to the film's racially prejudicial appeal; so Hayakawa's character was changed from Japanese Hishuru Tori to Burmese Haka Arakau, for a 1918 re-release. Presumably, the Burmese community was not amused.
********* The Cheat (12/13/15) Cecil B. DeMille ~ Fannie Ward, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Dean, James Neill
This is a lurid melodrama, filled with sex, race, and sadism; but, it is redeemed by several factors. Cecil B. DeMille directed artfully; his use of light and shadows is notable. The portrayals of Fannie Ward (as "The Cheat" Edith Hardy) and Sessue Hayakawa (as Tori aka Arakau) are among the finest of the era. You'll want to watch this film with the remote nearby, as there are a few scenes you may want to see re-played immediately.
The Japanese community objected, understandably, to the film's racially prejudicial appeal; so Hayakawa's character was changed from Japanese Hishuru Tori to Burmese Haka Arakau, for a 1918 re-release. Presumably, the Burmese community was not amused.
********* The Cheat (12/13/15) Cecil B. DeMille ~ Fannie Ward, Sessue Hayakawa, Jack Dean, James Neill
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- wes-connors
- Oct 11, 2007
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $17,311 (estimated)
- Runtime59 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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