For works with similar titles, see The Cheat.
The Cheat (1915)
directed by Cecil B. DeMille

This version is a 1918 rerelease, with differences including the name of Sessue Hayakawa's character, Haka Arakau (originally Hishuru Tori), with Arakau's ethnicity being Burmese, where Tori's was Japanese in the original film.

Key (info)
Dialogue
In scene
Storyline
Cast and Crew
Cast
RoleActor
Sessue Hayakawa
Fannie Ward
Raymond Hatton
James Neill
Lucien Littlefield
Yutaka Abe
Crew
DistributorParamount Pictures
DirectorCecil B. DeMille (d. 1959)
ProducerCecil B. DeMille
ScreenwriterJeanie MacPherson (d. 1946), Hector Turnbull (d. 1934)
CinematographerAlvin Wyckoff (d. 1957)
EditorCecil B. DeMille
ComposerRobert Israel
Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1959, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 64 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States.
The following is a transcription of a film. The contents below represent text or spoken dialogue that are transcribed directly from the video of the film provided above. On certain screen sizes, each line is represented by a timestamp next to it which shows when the text appears on the video. For more information, see Help:Film.
4611085The Cheat1915

Jesse L. Lasky
presents
Fannie Ward
in
The Cheat
by
Hector Turnbull
Copyright 1915 by Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Co., Inc.

A Paramount Picture

Scenario by
Hector Turnbull
and
Jeanie Macpherson

Photographed by
Alvin Wyckoff

Art Director
Wilfred Buckland

produced
by
Cecil B. DeMille

Haka Arakau, a Burmese ivory king to whom the Long Island smart-set is paying social tribute.

Sessue Hayakawa.

Richard Hardy, a New York Stock Broker.

Jack Dean.

Fannie Ward as Edith Hardy, his wife.

The Butterfly.

1 Black Evening Gown 450.00
1 Chiffon Evening Gown 600.00
1 Point Lace Negligee 400.00

$1450

"Can't you economize 'til my investments pay? It won't be for long."

"If you want me to give up my friends and social position—well—I won't."

"The same old story—My husband objects to my extravagance—and you."

"Dick, you're working too hard over this deal—Don't forget you have a wife."

"It's for my wife, I'm doing it."

No cross
no bazaar.

"They want me—as treasurer of the Fund—to ask the loan of your house for the Red Cross Ball."

"This makes over Ten Thousand Dollars now in the Fund Treasury."

"Mrs. Hardy is out with Mr. Arakau."

"Didn't your mistress pay your wages on the first of the month?"

"I must have new gowns for the Red Cross affairs. I am Treasurer of the Fund."

"I can't spend a cent now. Wait till my investment pays, and you'll have plenty."

"D. & O. Stock is bound to advance—I have put every cent I can raise on it."

"He's forcing me to give up everything."

"Can't I help? No one need know."

"Your husband is wrong about D. & O. He should take my advice and buy United Copper."

"Could you do anything with Ten Thousand Dollars?"

"Let me invest it in United Copper tonight—and I'll double your money tomorrow."

"I won it playing bridge. Promise not to tell."

The Red Cross Ball at the home of Haka Arakau.

"We'll send the Fund to the Belgians tomorrow."

"That means it belongs to me."

"We've lost—your Ten Thousand Dollars is gone."

"I've got to have Ten Thousand Dollars tomorrow."

"I wish I could help you—but I couldn't raise a dollar tonight to save my life."

Society Woman Steals
Red Cross Funds


Speculates and Loses $10,000


Mrs. Hardy Faces a Long Term in Prison

"Do you agree?"

New York June 15 1918 No. 71 [...]
Broadway Trust Company 1-119
Woolworth Building
Pay to the order ofEdith Hardy$10,000 00/100
Ten Thousand and00/100 Dollars
Haka Arakau

"Tomorrow."

The Fund is Presented.

"We're rich, Edith—rich—my investment in D. & O. succeeded."

"Come tonight."

"Does this mean that you can give me Ten Thousand Dollars right now?"

"I lost it playing bridge—I was afraid to tell you."

The Cheat.

"You cannot buy me off."

"Lock the doors and go."

"If you keep me here—I'll kill myself."

The Commercial Trust Company
of
New York
Broadway and Forty-First Street
No 128Sept-17
Pay to the order of Edith Hardy
Ten thousand and no/100
$10,000 00/100Richard Hardy

"Who shot you?"

"I shot him!"

With the Morning Light.



New York, April 27, 1918



Shooting in the Smart Set


Richard Hardy Arrested.


Young Stockbroker Shoots Burmese Ivory King


Motive a Mystery.

The shooting of Haka Arakau, a wealthy Burmese, [...]

"I shot him!"

"Why were you in his rooms?"

"I lost the Fund money—Arakau knew it and offered help—if I would pay the price."

"I forbid you to speak!"

"East is East and West is West and never the Twain shall meet."

"I will pay you all I have to drop this case."

"It is not my case—it is in the hands of the law."

"You cannot cheat me twice."

The Trial.

"When I grab that man—he have this gun."

"Who fired that shot?"

"Richard Hardy shot me."

The Defense.

"In trying to disarm him, I shot him."

"What was your real reason for shooting Arakau?"

"I shot him—that's all I have to say."

The Verdict.

"Guilty."

"I shot Arakau and this is my defense."

"The verdict is set aside."

"Your honor, I move that the indictment against this defendant be dismissed."

"Mr. Hardy, you are a free man."

A Famous Players-Lasky Production

The End

A Paramount Picture

Copyrighted 1918 by Famous Players-Lasky Corporation


This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


Copyright law abroad tends to consider the following people authors of a film:

  • The principal director
  • The screenwriter, and/or other writers of dialogue
  • The composer/lyricist (if the film is accompanied by sound)
  • The cinematographer
  • By extension, the authors of any works that may serve as the basis for a film's plot

The longest-living of these authors died in 1959, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 64 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse