From its opening of three sisters spinning the threads of life's fate, "The Cheaters" develops a plot of vengeance, mystery and romance with well drawn characters. -- General notes: Filmed with a careful eye for detail on location in Sydney and at the McDonagh family home, Drummoyne House, the picture shows evidence of the McDonagh sisters' understanding of mood and atmosphere. -- This is one of Australia's major surviving silents. -- Completed as a silent in early 1929, the film was redone as a partial talkie because of distribution difficulties, and used sound on disc with some scenes re-shot. -- The film was redone again with an optical soundtrack on a Standardtone system. -- Originally 6000 feet plus, it survives substantially complete at 6309 feet (94 mins @ 18fps). Some sound reels survive.