Polygamy: An Odd Relic of Moralizing Drama

Should you watch Polygamy? If you are a fan of old, slightly dusty morality plays that feel like they were pulled from a time capsule, then sure. If you prefer your cinema to have, you know, actual pacing or modern sensibilities, you’re probably going to be checking your watch every ten minutes. It’s not for everyone, and it definitely feels its age.

The story is basically a classic forbidden love trope, but with the specific backdrop of a polygamist sect. The bishop’s daughter is caught in the middle of a tug-of-war between her heart and her father’s rigid rules. It’s the kind of setup that feels very heavy-handed today, though I’m sure it had a different impact when it was fresh.

There is this one moment where the suitor—the one who already has four wives, mind you—is just insufferably persistent. You can almost see the actor thinking about his lunch while he delivers his lines. It’s hard not to laugh a little, even though the movie is trying so hard to be serious.

The dynamic between the parents of the outsider and the sect members is… well, it’s stiff. It’s remarkably stiff. I found myself comparing it to the tone in The Gypsy Trail, where the social barriers feel just as immovable, even if the context is totally different. The way people talk in these old films—everyone is so busy enunciating their values that they forget to sound like human beings.

I caught myself looking at the background extras during the big decision scene. One of them looks like they just realized they left the oven on at home. It’s those little, unpolished bits that make me like watching this stuff more than the big, important scenes.

The father’s dilemma is supposed to be the emotional anchor, but it feels more like a slow crawl to a conclusion you see coming from the opening credits. It doesn't have the grit of Frontier Woman, which at least gave us some stakes that felt real. Here, it’s mostly just people standing in rooms talking about "the way things are."

Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. Is it interesting as a piece of history? Maybe. The whole thing has a weird, enclosed energy, like the actors are all afraid of stepping out of frame. 🤷‍♂️

Sometimes the film feels like it’s struggling to justify its own existence. There’s a scene where the dialogue just loops back on itself for what feels like an eternity. It’s awkward, not emotional. But hey, that’s part of the charm, right?

If you watch it, pay attention to the lighting in the bishop's study. It’s moody in a way that suggests they were trying for something much grander than they could actually pull off. It’s a nice effort, at least.