The Cheaters

Dir. Paulette McDonagh. 1929, 92 mins. DCP. Silent. With Marie Lorraine, Arthur Greenaway. Paula Marsh works as part of a criminal organization headed by her father. Tasked to rob an expensive country club, she falls in love with the son of one of its wealthy guests. The Cheaters is the only surviving feature film of the filmmaking trio the McDonagh sisters—with Paulette billed as director, Phylis as producer, and Isabel the lead actress, here under the name “Marie Lorraine.” The film was made on the cusp of the introduction of the “talkies,” such bad timing forcing the sister to add sound and dialogue to subsequent versions, with negative critical and financial consequences. The original silent version remains the only intact version, and has been fully restored by the NFSA.

Presented in association with the National Film and Sound Archive’s digital restoration program – NFSA Restores: Reviving our cinema icons.

Tickets: $15 / $11 senior and students / $9 youth (ages 3–17) / Free or discounted for MoMI members ($11). Order tickets. Please pick up tickets at the Museum’s admissions desk upon arrival. All seating is general admission. Review safety protocols before your visit.