Monday, December 21, 2009

The Cheaters (1945): Have You Seen It?

The bread and butter at Republic Pictures was its low budget westerns which were churned out at a breakneck pace, but on rare occasions, the studio would produce a quality "A" picture with more lavish sets, costumes and music than the dusty prairie afforded. The Cheaters (1945) is one example of Republic's foray into "A" movie territory. The film centers on the Pidgeon family, a snobbish set of eccentrics whose self-centered lives are infiltrated by an out of work ham actor, who they take into their home at Christmas. Facing financial ruin, the Pidgeons hatch a scheme to garner an inheritance, given by their wealthy uncle to an unsuspecting innocent actress. Between the family of crazies, the actor and the actress cum heiress the mayhem is rampant. There is a hint of My Man Godfrey (1936) in The Cheaters except with lesser known actors in a less cohesive package. Had this film been made at MGM with an A-list cast it would most assuredly be a well remembered classic.
As the actor, a charity case who is initially taken into the Pidgeon household as merely a shallow stunt, is noted stage thespian Joseph Schildkraut. The Austrian native had several notable screen roles before The Cheaters, even becoming the first non American Oscar winner as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Life of Emile Zola in 1937. His part as Anthony Marchand or Mr. M, as he is hailed by the Pidgeons, is no star maker, but his confidence and presence shines through. Billie Burke, best known on screen as Glenda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and off screen as Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld, plays the kind of role she became famous for, the flibbertigibbet social matron, for whom social standing, status and celebrity reign supreme. As Mrs. Pidgeon, she is a snob but not a vicious one, instead, she is frivolous, financially foolish and flighty.
Best known as bad girl Belle Watling in Gone with the Wind (1939), Ona Munson is terrific as Florie Watson, a part originally slated for actress Binnie Barnes. Munson does a fine job as the down on her luck actress, who inherits a bundle. She is completely down to earth and world weary at the same time. Sadly, Munson would commit suicide ten years later in New York City. Also noteworthy are Eugene Pallette as the Pidgeon patriarch, Norma Varden, as his loyal if not cynical secretary and Anne Gillis as spoiled to the bone daughter Angela (think Veda from Mildred Pierce in a comedy, if you can!).

The film's director, Joseph Kane, was Republic's top western man, but occasionally took the helm of some of their other more ambitious projects, such as The Cheaters. Repackaging for television in the 1950's, the movie became known as The Castaway and was chopped down to an hour. Long lost to many classic movie fans, the film resurfaced on Turner Classic Movies in December 2008.

10 comments:

  1. I don't know this film at all - but I'll keep my eye out for it.

    But - Ona Munson committed suicide??? I didnt know that.

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  2. Rupert, thanks for shedding some light on this little-known crowd pleaser. I first saw it back in the 1970s and loved it. Then, I never saw it again until TCM showed it last Christmas. I'm afraid it couldn't hold up against my fond memories...it wasn't as good as I remembered. But it's still a fine film with strong cast and a frank honesty that sets it apart from other holiday films.

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  3. Good review, Rupert, of a film I've never even heard of. Sounds like it might be fun!

    Just as an aside, is it just me, or does the image of Joseph Schildkraut on the poster look like Henry Fonda in a wig? LOL

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  4. Thanks fellows for your comments. I just wish more people could be aware of The Cheaters, not necessarily because it's the best film but because it's a little known change of pace for the holiday season.....

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  5. According to imdb.com "The Cheaters" was one of Eugnene Pallette's last movies.

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  6. I saw this on Film 4 just before Christmas and was gobsmacked to discover it was a Republic Film.

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  7. Amazing surprise wasn't it CC?
    Good production values though, don't you think?

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  8. Thanks for the review,Rupert.Have not heard of this movie.Is it on dvd?...This is Don

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  9. IT IS DON!
    I have put a link for it at the end of the post. I hope you enjoy it sir.

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  10. It's on you tube now, but it lost the last 10 minutes, but still very enjoyable.

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