"The Bigamist"

“The Bigamist” (1953, Ida Lupino)

The first shot of Ida Lupino’s “The Bigamist” is of the Golden Gate bridge with the city of San Francisco in the background. From there we are treated, courtesy of Ms. Lupino as director (her fifth of six films accredited to her ), to the peculiar world of one man in said city. Edmond O’Brien and Joan Fontaine play Harry and Eve Graham who are at an interview at an adoption agency with none other than Santa Claus (okay, not really, but he played him in “Miracle on 34th Street”). During the interview, Mr. Graham seems a bit tense and Edmund Gwenn’s character, Mr. Jordan, assumes the role of investigator into the life of Harry Graham because he just knows something’s askew.
If the title alone doesn’t interest today’s viewer, considering it is from 1953, perhaps the argument of seriously considering bigamy might game you. All four of the main actors are terrific in their roles. Let’s start with Edmond O’Brien who plays the lead Harry/Harrison Graham. Taking him for physical value, he is a sort of sad-sack and second rate hero, but O’Brien manages to make us actually feel for a guy who has chosen a life of two wives. Joan Fontaine’s Eve (of S.F.) is a dainty, affectionate, loving, working girl who wants a family more than anything and loves Harry. Ida Lupino’s Phyllis Martin/Graham (of L.A.) is a more rough edged, filled with sarcasm, woman of the world who is transformed through her love and life with Mr. Graham into a loving, caring wife and mother who sees the glass in half-full light.
We, the viewers, are shown all the details of Mr. Graham’s double life through back-story while he is filling in the details for the investigating Mr. Jordan. Yes, it’s strange (or maybe not) to think that we could sympathize with both Mr. Graham and both Mrs.’s, but Mr. Jordan, being our liaison to the characters, does what is right by his professional duty in the matter of adoption for Harry Graham but also develops a sense of sympathy for all involved. Perhaps they could all live together?
This is a solidly good film by the bold and talented Lupino, who would make only one more film 13 years later. She was clearly a pioneer in her own time by bucking the studio contract system and making movies film to film and independently. There were not too many female directors back in the 50’s or actors who would buck the system. The actors are all true professionals who make this “B” movie stand out as something to check out.