CINEMA
The Bigamist. (Odeon, Marble Arch.)— Arrowhead. (Plaza.)
BIGAMY is a crime for which one cannot resist having a certain sympathy inasmuch as the bigamist desires respectability, a home, and a place in society for both, or all, his Wives. In the film at the Odeon Edmond O'Brien is a travelling salesman married to a pleasant confident businesswoman, Joan Fontaine. Lonely for her in distant San Francisco, he picks up lqa Lupino, falls in love with her and, though he tries to break away when he discovers she is going to have his child, marries her. One of the lessons this picture makes poignantly plain is that it is the greatest possible mistake to be kind. The older one grows the more one becomes aware of this lamentable fact. Mr. O'Brien is kind. He cannot bear to hurt either of his women, and by spreading happiness in all directions, by having a baby in one home and trying to adopt one for the other, by kissing everyone and meaning every kiss, he brings disaster upon all. The film is well directed by Ida Lupino, and though the script is on the corny side the cast harvest it neatly so as to hide its implausibilities. It is not a powerful picture, neither does it dig deep, but it invites a gentle compassion for those poor fools who cannot help being gentle and compassionate. It is a pity the law is so dead against love.
There is no gentleness, compassion or love in Arrowhead, which concerns itself with Apaches v. the U.S. Army. Old style war whoop stuff painted in strong primary colours On a large canvas it is perfect holiday entertainment for the young of all ages. Apparently, alas, I am not as young as I was, for I became inattentive to, and indeed careless of, the vital issues in hand, dismally unstirred by feathers and fires, scouts and spies, boringly suspicious of the simple ethics involved. But for Red Indian faithfuls, who care for nothing but adventure, this is obviously excellent fare, lavishly served by Charles Marquis Warren and• vigorously enjoyed by Jack Palance, Charles Heston and Katy Jurado. The script is a little above average, and the wide screen shows off the battles to advantage, so that everyone who has a spark of fire in him, everyone who is not condescending, in fact everyone who is not a sluggish film critic will undoubtedly respond.
VIRGINIA GRAHAM
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