Ida Lupino had an amazing life, starting out as a chorus cutie to giving some of the most dramatic performances of her time. In the late 1940s, early 1950s, she turned her hand to directing and tackled subject matter that was both shocking and topical - "Outrage" dealt with rape, "Hard, Fast and Beautiful" (1951) was about a pushy parent on the tennis circuit. "The Bigamist", despite its subject matter, was not at all sensationally handled and was a fine film.
Harry (Edmond O'Brien) and Eve (Joan Fontaine) are first seen having an interview with Mr. Jordan (Edmond Gwen) from the adoption agency. They are both keen to adopt but when Harry has to provide personal details, he is clearly uncomfortable. Mr Jordan starts investigating him and finds he is leading a double life. Harry has another wife Phyliss (Ida Lupino) - he also has a baby boy.
He and Eve had been drifting apart. After finding she couldn't have children she concentrated on building up their business and Harry felt unwanted. He meets Phyliss on a bus tour of movie stars' homes and they start to see each other every time he is in Los Angeles. When he finds out Phyliss is having a baby, he has to decide whether to be a man, get a divorce and stand by her - he decides to be a mouse, not confront Eve and marry Phyliss while he is still married to Eve!!! Eve surprises him with a visit to his Los Angeles office and while out with her is seen by a neighbour, who wastes no time in telling Phyliss.
Things come to a head in a court case, where the judge amazingly is very sympathetic to all parties concerned. He says something like "it is not which woman you want, but which woman will want you"!!!
Joan Fontaine is good, playing what she did best - a brittle woman who yearns for sympathy. Ida Lupino comes across as the most likable of the trio. You get the feeling she will end up with him at the end. Even though Edmond O'Brien gets sympathetic treatment as Harry - he is so stern and wooden, it is hard to believe he could charm any woman.
Recommended.
Harry (Edmond O'Brien) and Eve (Joan Fontaine) are first seen having an interview with Mr. Jordan (Edmond Gwen) from the adoption agency. They are both keen to adopt but when Harry has to provide personal details, he is clearly uncomfortable. Mr Jordan starts investigating him and finds he is leading a double life. Harry has another wife Phyliss (Ida Lupino) - he also has a baby boy.
He and Eve had been drifting apart. After finding she couldn't have children she concentrated on building up their business and Harry felt unwanted. He meets Phyliss on a bus tour of movie stars' homes and they start to see each other every time he is in Los Angeles. When he finds out Phyliss is having a baby, he has to decide whether to be a man, get a divorce and stand by her - he decides to be a mouse, not confront Eve and marry Phyliss while he is still married to Eve!!! Eve surprises him with a visit to his Los Angeles office and while out with her is seen by a neighbour, who wastes no time in telling Phyliss.
Things come to a head in a court case, where the judge amazingly is very sympathetic to all parties concerned. He says something like "it is not which woman you want, but which woman will want you"!!!
Joan Fontaine is good, playing what she did best - a brittle woman who yearns for sympathy. Ida Lupino comes across as the most likable of the trio. You get the feeling she will end up with him at the end. Even though Edmond O'Brien gets sympathetic treatment as Harry - he is so stern and wooden, it is hard to believe he could charm any woman.
Recommended.