Movie spotlight
The Virtuous Bigamist
The Provence, somewhere in the 1950's. Paul Verdier, traveling salesman, leaves his home and his quarrelsome wife for his weekly round. On the train he meets a young woman, Marie, who looks a little lost. No wonder. Marie is pregnant but lacks the customary husband. She's returning to her village but is not exactly looking forward to the confrontation with her parents and the villagers, all pretty conservative people. After getting to know Paul a little better (for which there is ample time during the trip by train and bus) Marie decides to ask Paul to act as her husband, just to allay the suspicions of her family. After some hesitating Paul accepts, charmed by the girl and unaware of the complications such is bound to cause to his own life.
Insights
Plot Summary
In this Italian comedy, a man finds himself in a complicated situation when he is legally married to two different women simultaneously. The film explores the farcical circumstances and humorous predicaments that arise from his double life. He attempts to navigate the challenges of maintaining two separate households and relationships without either wife discovering the truth.
Critical Reception
The film was a modest commercial success in Italy, leveraging the popularity of its lead actor, Alberto Sordi. Critical reviews were generally mixed, with many focusing on Sordi's comedic performance as the primary draw. While some appreciated the lighthearted humor and satire on societal norms, others found the plot predictable and the execution lacking depth.
What Reviewers Say
Praised for Alberto Sordi's signature comedic talent and physical humor.
The plot offers lighthearted entertainment and a gentle satire on marital and social conventions of the time.
Some critics found the narrative to be formulaic and lacking in originality.
Google audience: Audience reception is difficult to quantify due to limited public data, but it is generally remembered as a typical light comedy vehicle for Alberto Sordi, appreciated for its humorous situations.
Fun Fact
The film was directed by Bruno Corbucci, who would later become more widely known for his 'Super Flinch' (Il commissario) series of crime films.
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