Movie #1135 "The Bigamist" was a movie I happen to see advertised on TCM --- female director Ida Lupino, and first woman director directing herself. Another fun fact is that the writer-producer Marcus was married to Joan Fontaine (playing Eve Graham) but who was also the exhubby of Ida Lupino (playing the other woman in this film) --- small world, isn't it? But what I found most intriguing about this movie is the sensitivity it approaches the bigamy issue --- most of the time the viewer is supposed to say: how dare he do this? what a cad! But this film shows a guy who possibly finds love with these two women --- they each serve a place in his life and he is able to keep both of the relationships going ---- as long as they don't know about each other! It makes you think twice about he issue, for sure. I would bet this was very controversial, esp. having a baby with another woman while being married to the first one! Wow! But it is not covered in a slimy way at all..but in a loving way. You can tell that it is a 50's film when the judge is very clear about the consequences --- but he says basically that he didn't think that Harry did this maliciously --- he only had love in his heart for both women and did not want to hurt each one, but Harry learns that he hurts both of them deeply. The judge suggests that maybe one might take him back, and that is left up in the air as he two women leave the courtroom while Harry looks on and "the End" comes across the screen. I enjoyed it because it was a different angle on the subject, and the acting was good. I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Harry Graham leads a double life and is caught out when he and his wife Eve apply to adopt a baby. They live in San Francisco but in fact, Harry has a second wife Phyllis and a baby living in Los Angeles. When Mr. Jordan from the adoption agency finds his second home Harry tells him how it came about. He loves Eve but she seemed to be more interested in their family run business and they had grown apart over the years. While on a trip to Los Angeles he met Phyllis Martin and after spending time together, he realized that he had better break off the relationship before they go too far. Unfortunately, the relationship continued and when Phyllis became pregnant, he married her. Now that he's been found out, he must face the consequences
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