The Bigamist (1953)

The Bigamist
Directed by Ida Lupino
Written by Collier Young based on a story by Lawrence B. Marcus and Lou Schor
1953/USA
The Filmmakers
First viewing/Amazon Prime Instant Video
#270 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die

[box] Harry Graham: How can a man call a woman his wife for eight years – someone who you love, who loves you – how can you call her and tell her that you must have a divorce? Worse than that, you’ve been unfaithful – you’re going to be a father. How can you hurt someone so much?[/box]

This is an OK melodrama/noir, although if I had to pick one Ida Lupino-directed movie for the “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die” list, I would certainly have gone for The Hitch-Hiker.

As the story begins, traveling salesman Harry Graham (Edmond O’Brien) and his wife Eve (Joan Fontaine) are applying to adopt a baby and talking with social worker Mr. Jordan (Edmund Gwenn).  Harry looks very uncomfortable when he is signing the paperwork that will allow Jordan to investigate every aspect of their lives.  Privately, Jordan has his doubts about Harry.

Jordan tracks down the office Harry uses when he is away in Los Angeles and finally locates him in a house he occupies with wife Phyllis (Lupino) and their infant son.  Harry tells the sad story of how he came to be in this situation and we move into flashback. Naturally, one of the things that drove Harry into Phyllis’s arms was Eve’s emasculating work in his business.  It’s all more complicated that that, though.  Harry claims that he just could not bear to hurt anyone.  It looks to me that he could not admit or take the consequences of his wrong-doing.

This is a solid movie and O’Brien is always great in these kind of “deer trapped in the headlights” roles.  The film also has a bit of fun with actor Gwenn’s role in Miracle on 34th Street.  It lacks the sheer style and drama of Lupino’s other 1953 film The Hitch-Hiker, however.

Trailer