Ida Lupino directed and starred in this haunting 1953 film "The Bigamist". Lupino, a rare female director working in the 1950's made a number of cheaply budgeted, but highly interesting films in that era. The plot of "The Bigamist" is probably the most intriguing of them all- but Lupino doesn't let the sensational subject matter slide into pure melodrama. This is a sad, quiet and painfully honest look at the lives of the three central characters and the tragic situation they find themselves in.
Joan Fontaine gives the film's best performance as Eve, who is married to Harry (Edmond O'Brien) and can't conceive a child. So she turns her energies into trying to become the perfect wife and business partner to O'Brien. Fontaine's portrait of a woman, outwardly confident, but desperate for approval and the "completeness" of motherhood, is subtle and highly affecting. Lupino is almost equally good as Phyllis, the woman lonely O'Brien, working in a city away from Fontaine, turns to ad falls in love with. In a way, Phyllis is very similar to Eve. Both of them seem to not need anyone, but inwardly there is a huge gap in their lives. Phyllis becomes pregnant with a child, and to protect her, Harry marries her.
This sad tale is told is flashback to adoption agency head Edmund Gwenn, who, at the beginning, sense's Harry's deception of the desperate Eve. I haven't mentioned O'Brien much yet, so I will now. While we are drawn to sympathise and connect more with the two women involved, O'Brien's character is hardly a villain. In the affecting courtroom scene, where looks say a thousand words, we are asked to question our own morals. Harry cheated on his wife, yes, but he actually married Phyllis, instead of abandoning her and the child. It is a terribly complex situation, and as the judge says, the result result is nothing compared to the damning effect on all their lives.
Joan Fontaine gives the film's best performance as Eve, who is married to Harry (Edmond O'Brien) and can't conceive a child. So she turns her energies into trying to become the perfect wife and business partner to O'Brien. Fontaine's portrait of a woman, outwardly confident, but desperate for approval and the "completeness" of motherhood, is subtle and highly affecting. Lupino is almost equally good as Phyllis, the woman lonely O'Brien, working in a city away from Fontaine, turns to ad falls in love with. In a way, Phyllis is very similar to Eve. Both of them seem to not need anyone, but inwardly there is a huge gap in their lives. Phyllis becomes pregnant with a child, and to protect her, Harry marries her.
This sad tale is told is flashback to adoption agency head Edmund Gwenn, who, at the beginning, sense's Harry's deception of the desperate Eve. I haven't mentioned O'Brien much yet, so I will now. While we are drawn to sympathise and connect more with the two women involved, O'Brien's character is hardly a villain. In the affecting courtroom scene, where looks say a thousand words, we are asked to question our own morals. Harry cheated on his wife, yes, but he actually married Phyllis, instead of abandoning her and the child. It is a terribly complex situation, and as the judge says, the result result is nothing compared to the damning effect on all their lives.