THE CHEATERS
US, 1945, 90 minutes, Black and white .
Joseph Schildkraut, Billie Burke, Eugene Pallette, Ona Munsen, Raymond Walburn, Anne Gillis, Bruce Terry.
Directed by Joseph Kane.
The Cheaters is a Republic film, B-budget, with a group of B-level stars. It is a pleasant moral tract set at Christmas time, made at the end of World War II, and appealed to Americans to be generous with their money and not greedy - especially those who are spendthrift.
Eugene Pallette and Billie Burke are the parents of a family that is wealthy but has fallen on hard times. When the uncle, whose will they depended on, dies and leaves all his money to an actress he saw perform in Uncle Tom's Cabin as a child, they set about finding her to stop her getting the money. However, she is an attractive and bright character and they enjoy her company. Joseph Schildkraut performs as a John Barrymore-style actor who has fallen on hard times and is welcomed into the house as a charity case. A drinker, he is full of charm, begins to transform the people - but does so especially with a rendition of Dickens' Christmas Carol. Needless to say, everybody ends up happy.
1. Popular and sentimental story? 1940s style?
2. Black and white photography, New York, the countryside? Winter, Christmas? The musical score?
3. The title and its reference to each of the characters and their behaviour and attitudes? The importance of the Christmas Carol story for making everyone more honest?
4. The portrait of the family: Jim Pidgeon and his business, his loyal secretary, her warnings, his extravagance, being generous, allowing his wife to do what she liked? The extravagant mother, her children thinking she was silly, the Christmas preparations, the huge staff? The older daughter Theresa and her wanting to keep up appearances for her wealthy military fiance? Angela, whom everybody calls "Kid" and who wants to be seen to grow up? Reggie, who has been studying in the western states? Their financial status, their attitudes towards each other, the celebration of Christmas, taking in the charity case, the dilemma with Miss Watson, their conniving and the plan, going to the country, the country experience changing them, humanising them, cooking, telling stories, gifts? The impact of Mr M. telling the story? Angela and leading the group to be honest? The happy ending?
5. Mr M, a dignified charity case, his accident, the burning down of the factory, going to the family in style, his drinking, relationship with the butler and getting the drinks? His charm for each of the family, Jim relying on him for the story, the newspaper, going with Uncle Willie to persuade Miss Watson to come? Going to the country, stoking the fire, entertaining people? His continually performing? His memories of his past? The friendship with Miss Watson, her urging him to stop drinking, her admiration, his falling in love with her, the delivery of his performance on Dickens, going to the inn, the happy ending with Miss Watson?
6. The will, Miss Watson, down on her luck, the phone calls, her decision to go to the family, enjoying it, the company, good-natured, down to earth? In the country, the cooking? Her concern about Mr M, trying to get him off the drink? The revelation of the truth - and her generosity?
7. A moral tale that is situated in a different kind of America? But still relevant to contemporary America?
