The Story of a Cheat

Sacha Guitry's The Story of a Cheat, from 1936, moves along with the propulsive energy of a Dixieland band. A delightful frolic, The Story of a Cheat chronicles the life and times of a scoundrel who climbs the greasy pole of French society whilst shuttling back and forth from the cafes of Paris to the casino in Monaco. Guitry, directing only his second film, plays the protagonist as an unrepentant cad. The tone is one of ironic detachment, as in Lubitsch or Moliere. Guitry narrates the film, which largely eschews expositional dialogue. The film hurtles along at a swift, entertaining pace punctuated by swift pans and exclamatory close-ups. The effect is musical. Equal to the 30s comedies of Chaplin and superior to most of Lubitsch's from that era.