The Cheat

It's rape, attempted murder, deceit, greed and the Yellow Peril! It's DeMille!

This time an early silent, 1915's The Cheat. It exist through only one copy, an 1918 rerelease that saw the main villain (Sessue Hayakawa) changed from Japanese to Burmese (Japanese Americans complained even in 1915. Seems it was ok to offend the Burmese at this period).

And is it offensive? Oh baby, is it. As offensive as Birth of a Nation, released the same year? No, but it's in the top 5.



Here he is in the dramatically lit opening scene, playing with his little branding iron. Gee I wonder if he uses it later...



Again with the drapes. The story is of one foolish and selfish woman, her not to bright but loving husband (could his mustache be more mannered?), and the aforementioned Villain.



Yes, the tabloids were a problem even then. The film has nice touches like this.



And this too, light and shadow used to great effect. Touches of Noir, 30 years early.



Kato, fetch my eyeliner, now!

So if you're looking for hair pulling over the top silent melodrama of the highest order, look no further than this film. Just don't throw things at the screen at the end.