FILM · 1953 · USA
The Bigamist
- Directed by
- Ida Lupino
- Runtime
- 80 min
- Studio
- The Filmakers
23 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
San Francisco businessman Harry Graham and his wife and business partner, Eve, are in the process of adopting a child. When private investigator Mr. Jordan uncovers the fact that Graham has another wife, Phyllis, and a small child in Los Angeles, he confesses everything.
23 Interesting Facts About The Bigamist
Interesting Facts (7)
- #001
This was the only time Ida Lupino directed on her own.
- #002
Writer-producer Collier Young was married to Joan Fontaine at the time and had previously been married to Ida Lupino.
- #003
This would be the last feature film Ida Lupino directed for more than 12 years, until The Trouble with Angels (1966).
- #004
During the Hollywood stars tour, the driver points out the home of Edmund Gwenn, star of Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Gwenn actually plays Mr. Jordan in this film.
- #005
One of two films Lilian Fontaine appeared in to support her daughter Joan Fontaine; the other is Ivy (1947).
- #006
Originally set up as an RKO production, the film ran into difficulties when RKO pulled out, leaving it without a distributor.
- #007
The film is in the public domain, so many different versions exist, most of them of poor quality.
Production Story (14)
- #008
She was not the first female star to direct herself; there were pioneers such as Grace Cunard and Mabel Normand. However, this film is thought to be the first sound film directed by the woman starring in it.
- #009
The film contains several Santa Claus jokes referring to Edmund Gwenn, who played Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
- #010
Screenwriter-producer Collier Young was married to Joan Fontaine at the time and had previously been married to Ida Lupino.
- #011
This was the last feature film Ida Lupino directed until she returned more than 12 years later with The Trouble with Angels (1966).
- #012
On the star homes tour in Beverly Hills, the houses the driver says belong to Jack Benny and James Stewart are their actual homes on Roxbury Drive.
- #013
On the Hollywood stars tour, the driver points out the home of Edmund Gwenn, star of Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Yet in this film Gwenn plays Mr. Jordan.
- #014
One of two films in which Lilian Fontaine appeared in a supporting role alongside her daughter Joan Fontaine. The other is Ivy (1947).
- #015
Originally planned as an RKO production, the film was left without a distributor when RKO was shut down, leaving it in a difficult position.
- #016
It appears on the list of '1001 Films You Must See Before You Die', edited by Steven Schneider.
- #017
Because it is a public domain film, many different versions exist, and most of them are not of good quality.
- #018
One of the spouses was initially planned to be played by Jane Greer, but when she dropped out at the last moment, Joan Fontaine took the role.
- #019
The wind-up toy Eve buys in anticipation of adoption is the tin 'George the Drummer Boy' made by Louis Marx & Co. In good condition it would be worth $100-200 or more in 2015.
- #020
Lilian Fontaine's last film.
- #021
On the bus tour of film stars' homes, the driver points out Jane Wyman's house. However, he does not mention that it is also the home of her husband Ronald Reagan, then at the lowest point of his career.
Characters & Cast (1)
- #022
The film contains several jokes about Santa Claus and Kris Kringle, all of them belonging to leading actor Edmund Gwenn, who played Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street (1947).
Career & Awards (1)
- #023
On the bus tour of movie stars' homes, the driver points out Jane Wyman's house but does not mention that it is also the home of her husband Ronald Reagan, who was then at the lowest point of his career.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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