The Cheat (1931)
Directed by George Abbott
Temptation meets its match in The Cheat, a scandalous Pre-Code classic starring Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat). Elsa Carlyle (Bankhead) is an impulsive and charismatic gambler who has fallen on hard times and owes a large sum of money. A wealthy playboy (Irving Pichel, The Story of Temple Drake) promises to help her but his price may be more than Elsa is prepared to give. When her devoted husband (Harvey Stephens, Beau Geste) takes the fall for her passions, Elsa’s loyalties are put to the test. Directed by legendary Broadway and Hollywood ace George Abbott (Damn Yankees) during the most decadent era in motion picture history, this daring story explores a woman whose addictions lead her on a path of danger and discovery.