Review of The Story of a Cheat (1936) by Adam S — 21 Sep 2010
Famous French thespian and playwright Sacha Guitry is the epitome of the auteur in this one-of-a-kind comedy, written, acted, directed, and masterfully narrated by the star in a witty, imaginative, and sincere dialogue with the image and the audience.
Ostensibly, Guitry narrates the life of an orphan from the day his extensive family is killed by poisonous mushrooms, through to his 50's, where in a lonely, stage bound cafe, he's writing his memoirs, of which serve as the key device to plunge back and forth in time, as the boy grows up and tries to change his errant ways, only to find theft, love, and excitement come hand in hand during the first decades of the 20th century.
With a brilliant editing precision, Guitry's voice and story play the narrative along as the images remain all but silent, focusing almost entirely on the older man's recollection of his life, decades later, while remaining an elusive figure in the present; a dapper storyteller with pen and paper, and just a bit of unaccountability to keep the stories remarkable, sweet, and thoroughly funny.
This review of The Story of a Cheat (1936) was written by Adam S on 21 Sep 2010.
The Story of a Cheat has generally received very positive reviews.
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