“You are mine—body and soul!” – The Cheat (1915)

This week, we’re traveling back to 1915 with returning guests Amanda Rush and Jae Kim for a deep dive into Cecil B. DeMille’s The Cheat. A landmark of early American cinema, The Cheat helped shape visual storytelling through its pioneering use of lighting, editing, and narrative tension. But alongside its technical innovation lies a deeply troubling legacy—particularly in its portrayal of race and power.

Amanda and Jae help us unpack the film’s lasting influence, Sessue Hayakawa’s complex role in Hollywood history, and how The Cheat fits into the broader conversation about preserving films that reflect both the artistry and the prejudices of their time.

• The Cheat (1915) was directed by Cecil B. DeMille and stars Fannie Ward and Sessue Hayakawa

• Selected to the National Film Registry in 1993

• Celebrated for its dramatic lighting, narrative structure, and early use of cross-cutting

• Discussion topics include:

• The visual legacy of The Cheat

• Sessue Hayakawa’s breakthrough role and its cultural implications

• Representations of race and gender in early Hollywood

• The importance of preserving films that capture both cinematic milestones and historical biases

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Music by Mike Natale