What do you think about it? I feel people will be divided on this. On one hand he was absolutely so caring and truly loved his wife. On the other hand he was cheating on his dying wife who had no clue it was happening.
shareExtremely good husband as portrayed. Only he didn't find her sexually attractive. Same with her singing. He spends lying to her the whole movie about everything, not just his cheating. But the minute she asks him to spend the night, he doesn't hesitate. He embraces her tenderly and kisses her, and they sleep, literally, together. That's love.
shareBesides the physical stuff, she also seemed to have some mental issues as well. Despite that, the dude really took care of her. the lengths he went to to make sure she was comfortable and happy were quite extensive.
Cheating on her to come off that bad imo considering the circumstances. It's not like he was simply doing it for fun – the woman was incapable.
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I think he did care and love her but not romantically/sexually in love with her. And given their circumstances tbh, I don't blame him having a gf. He's not a monk or a priest.
shareDidn't seem to be a husband at all. They seem to have had more of a strong friendship type relationship than a romantic one. She was mostly in love with music, or actually herself making music. Not sure why he felt the need to delude her, except for it being financially beneficial. The relationship was not that of a true marriage based on commitment, honesty, and faithfulness.
shareHe wasn't actually her husband: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Foster_Jenkins. Jenkins was married once, to Frank Thornton Jenkins. She kept the last name because he was her only legal spouse. He died in 1917, and although she died in 1944 from a heart attack, shortly after her disastrous Carnegie Hall concert, she was never married again. "In 1909, she met British Shakespearean actor St. Clair Bayfield, and they began a vaguely defined cohabitation relationship that continued the rest of her life." (Wikipedia) This relationship started before her father died and left her the pile of cash, but Bayfield no doubt knew she was going to be in the chips soon. And he was right -- her father was dead the year after they started living together. But she had syphilis before they even met, so it's likely they didn't have a physical relationship.
So a fellow starts living with a woman with an active case of syphilis who's going to come into a pile of cash; a woman who is the toast of the trendy set, and who bills himself as her "manager," but who doesn't have a physical relationship with her and never marries her -- not in real life. Said woman is one of the worst singers in the history of forever, but she has a following, perhaps because she's got the gall to sing with no talent, which has a certain hilarious charm. I think the conclusion writes itself -- the man isn't there for the sex, or to manage a burgeoning career. That leaves...?
He's obviously there for the money and the entre into New York society. He's a hanger-on and what was once known as a "kept man," which was perhaps given a nod and a wink by the trendy set with the morals of a particularly disreputable alley cat, but was, at that time, more or less a complete disgrace for a man. "He has to live off of women," was the bottom of the masculine barrel.
I am forever grateful to the man who made her singing career possible. I've cherished her one album for years, and played it hundreds of times. It never fails to lift me out of a bad mood! And not because I'm laughing at her, either. Okay, I'm laughing, who wouldn't when they hear that, but I'm also utterly in awe of a woman who sang out of sheer love of singing, no matter what anyone thought. Mrs. Jenkins has been one of my role models for years, although obviously the things I learned from her can't be used at my job!
That said, you've left a few things out of your calculations about his feelings. No, he wasn't there for the sex, and he wasn't there because of marital ties. But he could be there out of fondness, friendship, and/or the desire to care for someone who is not healthy, but who is loved.
I see your point. This is an interesting page, filled with information:
"Is it possible that St. Clair Bayfield was with Florence Foster Jenkins for her money?
Yes, at least one could certainly make an argument for it. However, Florence's father, Charles Dorrance Foster, specifically stated in his will that Florence's husband, or any future husband, could not obtain her inheritance. St. Clair Bayfield, a six-foot-tall British Shakespearean actor, had come to New York City in search of his big break but struggled to find success. He had been raised as a member of British aristocracy on his grandfather's sprawling country estate. However, he had inherited nothing and became a sheep farmer in New Zealand before turning to acting. Florence paid for an apartment for him in exchange for his duties as her manager. She herself stayed in semi-posh hotels, eventually settling at The Hotel Seymour.
"There certainly seems to have been a mutual attraction, and Bayfield is said to have remained loyal and celebrated the anniversary of their meeting with flowers. However, due to Florence's struggle with syphilis (a gift from her first husband), it is unlikely that her relationship with Bayfield ever turned sexual. It is said that he was attracted to her dynamic personality and she to his aristocratic ways. He nicknamed her "Bunny" and she affectionately called him "Whitey." Despite their affection for one another, the romantic side of their relationship would eventually come to an end."
The 2000 character limit makes it impossible to give you the rest, but look here: http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/florence-foster-jenkins/