It's a terrible shame that Basil was so messed up from the war and full of such mental despair that he allowed himself to be led by Ouida. I don't honestly think he was happy with her for most of their marriage but he had no fight left in him...but SHE did. She threatened to take away his child and expose the affair he was having (including the woman he was involved with). As "no fault divorce" did not exist at the time, Ouida would have obtained full custody of his child and, try to ruin his career by defaming him (and his mistress). In the end, it was just easier, in his mind, to stay I guess. It was a largely loveless and sexless marriage, which seemed to work for Ouida (as Basil was her meal ticket), but Basil sought the intimacy he must have so craved in extra marital affairs, and when he finally fell in love with someone else, Ouida ensured that Basil would not leave her, and if he did, he would pay. Basil made some terrible decisions in his life (especially as it related to his first wife and son), and I wonder if he felt that being forced to stay in his miserable marriage was his pennants. I'm guessing the thought of abandoning another child was probably more than he could face as well.
It's a terrible shame that Basil was so messed up from the war and full of such mental despair that he allowed himself to be led by Ouida. I don't honestly think he was happy with her for most of their marriage but he had no fight left in him...but SHE did. She threatened to take away his child and expose the affair he was having (including the woman he was involved with). As "no fault divorce" did not exist at the time, Ouida would have obtained full custody of his child and, try to ruin his career by defaming him (and his mistress). In the end, it was just easier, in his mind, to stay I guess. It was a largely loveless and sexless marriage, which seemed to work for Ouida (as Basil was her meal ticket), but Basil sought the intimacy he must have so craved in extra marital affairs, and when he finally fell in love with someone else, Ouida ensured that Basil would not leave her, and if he did, he would pay. Basil made some terrible decisions in his life (especially as it related to his first wife and son), and I wonder if he felt that being forced to stay in his miserable marriage was his pennants. I'm guessing the thought of abandoning another child was probably more than he could face as well.
I think your analysis is valid. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
I saw this movie when I was 9 years old. It still holds up.