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The Bigamist Details

1953 Certificate PG Certificate PG (TBC)
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 35 members

A salesman marries a wealthy woman from a blue-blooded L.A. family (Fontaine) and a street-smart waitress in a San Francisco Chinese restaurant. Driven to this agonizing extreme more by his big heart than lust, the bigamist strains to keep his double life a secret from the women he truly loves. Curiously non-judgmental, .. Read more

Starring Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn, Edmond O'Brien
Director Ida Lupino
Genres Drama

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The Bigamist

A salesman marries a wealthy woman from a blue-blooded L.A. family (Fontaine) and a street-smart waitress in a San Francisco Chinese restaurant. Driven to this agonizing extreme more by his big heart than lust, the bigamist strains to keep his double life a secret from the women he truly loves. Curiously non-judgmental, particularly as it's directed by a woman, Lupino (it's also the only production in which she directed herself).

Starring Joan Fontaine, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn, Edmond O'Brien
Director Ida Lupino
Studio QUANTUM LEAP
Run time DVD: 1 hr 19 mins
Watch now: 1 hr 20 mins
Certificate DVD: Certificate PG, Watch Online: Certificate PG (TBC)
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Watch Online: English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 22 Oct 2007
Watch now: 30 Apr 2009
Production year: 1953
Watch now Subscribe and watch this as part of an unlimited package.
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Bigamist

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    In this gritty but far-fetched tale, directed by and co-starring Ida Lupino, a feckless travelling salesman (Edmond O'Brien) ends up with two wives (Lupino and the suffering Joan Fontaine). This is adult material and director Lupino really makes you believe in O'Brien's dilemma. It's an unusual and serious subject that is given a dramatic outing for a change, unlike the comic contortions of The Captain's Paradise or The Doctor's Dilemma. The only weakness is in the framing story, with loveable Edmund Gwenn as an investigator.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 1 stars out of 4

    Minor melodrama which took its subject seriously but failed to make absorbing drama of it. Very much a family affair, starring the producer's present and past wives, the latter also directing.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Bigamist

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  • Rated - 3 stars

    dated but great story

    directed by one of its female stars, Ida Lupino - a rarity in itself in those years. This has a great story and is compassionate in its telling of the story of the man who marries two women at the same time. Film is not in very good condition.

      • A customer from Midhurst
      • Posted 30 Nov 2008 08:04

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Rating breakdown

35 Member ratings
  • 100
2
  • 90
1
  • 80
2
  • 70
6
  • 60
7
  • 50
2
  • 40
3
  • 30
2
  • 20
5
  • 10
5

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    • The Bigamist

    • The Bigamist
      A salesman marries a wealthy woman from a blue-blooded L.A. family (Fontaine) and a street-smart waitress in a San Francisco Chinese restaurant. Driven to this agonizing extreme more by his big heart than lust, the bigamist strains to keep his double life a secret from the women he truly loves. ...