The Bigamist

A kind-hearted furniture salesman, while on a business trip, has a brief affair that results in an unplanned pregnancy. He learns that his wife cannot have children and is faced with the impossible choice of revealing his secret and potentially losing her, or raising the child in secret with the woman he barely knows. The film explores the moral and emotional complexities of his predicament.

The Bigamist received a mixed to positive reception upon its release, with particular praise directed at Ida Lupino's sensitive direction and the performances of its lead actors. While some critics found its subject matter challenging for the era, many acknowledged its nuanced portrayal of a complex moral dilemma and its effective blend of drama and noir elements. It has since gained recognition as a notable example of pre-Code Hollywood filmmaking and Lupino's directorial prowess.

• Praised for its mature handling of a taboo subject matter for its time.
• Ida Lupino's direction is commended for its sensitive and non-judgmental approach.
• The performances, particularly Joan Fontaine's, are highlighted as compelling.

Google audience: Audience reception data from Google is not readily available for this film.

The film was co-directed by Ida Lupino, who also starred in it, making her one of the few female directors in Hollywood during the 1950s to tackle such a challenging subject.