Cheaters is a 1934 American crime film directed by Phil Rosen and starring William Boyd, June Collyer and Dorothy Mackaill.
Although the film's onscreen credits state that the film was copyrighted in 1933, copyright records list the title with a 1934 copyright date: 30 January 1934, L 4449. Liberty Pictures Corp. The film is loosely based on the short story "The Peacock Screen" by Fanny Heaslip Lea.
Contents
Plot
After being released from San Quentin, Kay Murray (June Collyer), wrongly imprisoned for forgery, meets Steve Morris (Bill Boyd), a charming con man who gives her money for a hotel room. Steve’s partners, K.C. Kelly (William Collier Sr.) and Mabel Kelly (Dorothy Mackaill), have befriended millionaire Paul Southern (Alan Mowbray) as part of a scheme to marry him off to Steve’s girlfriend, Rose.
When Rose turns out to be in Cuba, Steve transforms Kay into a glamorous substitute. Southern falls for Kay and proposes, unaware that the gang plans to divorce him after six months and divide his settlement.
Although Steve loves Kay, she accepts Southern’s proposal, hurt by Steve’s willingness to use her for the con. Jealous, Steve calls off the scheme, but K.C. steals Southern’s emeralds. Steve retrieves the jewels and confesses the plot to Southern.
When K.C. is caught by a detective (Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams), Southern declines to press charges, but the gang faces a return to prison for violating parole.
Now in love, Kay and Steve face their fate together.
Cast
William Boyd as Steve Morris
June Collyer as Kay Murray
Dorothy Mackaill as Mabel
William Collier Sr. as K.C. Kelly
Alan Mowbray as Paul Southern
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Detective Sweeney
Louise Beavers as Lily
Crew
Director – Phil Rosen
Producers – M. H. Hoffman and M. H. Hoffman Jr.
Story, continuity and dialogue – Adele Buffington
Photography – Harry Neumann and Tom Galligan
Editor – Mildred Johnston
Music director – Abe Meyer
Sound – L. E. Clark
Production manager – Ray Culley
Lyrics – Marcy Klauber
Composer – Harry Stoddard