Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

MtnShelby How did I miss this film? There are so many reasons to see it, starting with the wonderful Ida Lupino directing and starring. The film bravely explores some pretty volatile topics that range well beyond the bigamy issue. The triangulation of the three lead characters is riveting, from start to finish. I had no idea what to expect of this film--I feared it would be quite silly and melodramatic. And while the film does have its cloying moments (and the portly Edmond O'Brien is no Cary Grant), I enjoyed every minute of this film, especially its intelligent portrayal of contemporary social issues. As films go, The Bigamist is no Casablanca, but it's certainly not sub par, and it's well worth the time invested. Highly recommended.

vincentlynch-moonoi I have to give director Ida Lupino quite bit of credit for the way in which she handled what some directors might have made very sensationalistic. Instead, she directs this with restraint, seemingly saying that normal people do things that are not necessarily accepted...it just happens.The cast does a fine job here. Edmond O'Brien comes across as a sort of "every man", as the traveling salesman who has 2 wives. Joan Fontaine is wife #1, and she and O'Brien are trying to adopt a child. Along comes Edmund Gwenn, as the head of the adoption agency, who has a hunch something is wrong, and discovers the bigamy. Gwenn had the ability to play both heavies and beloved figures...here, it's sort of in-between as he refuses to make another mistake in assigning a child; he's very good here, as he discovers wife #2 -- Ida Lupino, who seems very real and likable, despite the situation. The wonderful Jane Darwell has a minor part as a custodian. Interstingly, Lillian Fontaine -- mother of Joan Fontaine and Olivia DeHavilland -- has a small part as the owner of a boarding house.Ida Lupino, who directed, certainly did have a subtle sense of humor. Early on in the film, Joan Fontaine referred to Edmund Gwenn's character as seeming like Santa Claus (and as you may remember, he indeed did play Santa Claus in "Miracle On 34th Street" six years earlier. And during the bus tour, they show the houses of (among others) Jack Benny, Jimmy Stewart...and Edmund Gwenn! A negative about this film probably has to do with...well, the negative. This film was produced by the production company that Ida Lupino and her husband (Collier Young) formed. Their budgets were thin, but the topics dealt with popular social issues. Lupino herself directed all 6 films made by The Filmmakers company. The films were distributed by RKO. The company folded after this film. The print used on TCM for this (and several of the other The Filmmakers films) is not in particularly good condition. I imagine that is because the negatives/prints were not kept to the higher standards of the large studios. It's not uncomfortable to watch, but in some spots the quality of the negative is a little distracting.I wasn't totally pleased with the ending of the film. What happens to each of them...particularly the women...and children. And who does he come back to after prison? If anyone. Too many loose ends to be totally satisfying, but nevertheless, a well done film.

Maddyclassicfilms Directed by one of it's stars Ida Lupino,The Bigamist tells the story of a world weary travelling salesman who is married to two women.The Bigamist begins with married couple Harry Graham(Edmund O'Brian)and his wife Eve(Joan Fontaine)going to an adoption agency for an interview to see if they are fine to adopt a child.Eve cannot have children and after much soul searching is desperate to try this.They are interviewed by the kindly but suspicious Mr.Jordan(Edmund Gwenn)who is happy with Eve's personality but not sure about Harry's.He's right to be concerned as we learn Harry is also known as Harrison Graham and is married in Los Angeles to the outwardly tough but inwardly fragile Phyllis Martin(Ida Lupino).Graham married her after a night of passion resulted in her getting pregnant.Mr Jordan(who traces Harry to Los Angeles)is told all this but doesn't say anything to the Police believing Harry to have morals enough to turn himself in.With an ending left very much open and some heartbreaking performances, The Bigamist although not a perfect film features a fascinating subject and is entertaining enough.I would like to see more of Ida's directorial work,what she gives us here impressed and moved me and it looks great,this is worth a watch.

Cristi_Ciopron This friendly writer finds O'Brien an irresistibly colorful actor and was not unpleased with his almost kabuki _expressivity and glacé grimaces in THE BIGAMIST. Besides, the whole cast is worth watching—Mrs. Fontaine and Mrs. Lupino.Mrs. Fontaine proves again her fantastic gifts--dramatic as well as physical.The script is acceptable in the sense that the protagonist' anxious expression is intended probably, and noticed as such by the old guy. As for the rest, I can not really say that Mrs. Lupino became my favorite director. The movie feels somewhat stale, somewhat stilted; yet for me the cast was a compelling reason to somewhat enjoy it.