Plot Hole
We are told that the abbey can't be sold as it is in Ligeia's name, and as a death certificate for her was never issued she is legally considered still alive.
How then did Veron and Rowena obtain a marriage certificate?
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MovieChat Forums > The Tomb of Ligeia (1965) Discussion > Plot Hole
There's no requirement that anyone check any records to see if someone's already married or widowed. They registrars in the licensing offices assume, since you're under oath, you're telling the truth when you claim you're unmarried. If not, you're guilty of bigamy AND perjury.
shareI believe the film is set in 1821. There was no required legal registration until about 1838 as far as I know although I think churches were required to keep records from the 18th century.
So many films, so little time
The Chirch itself could be another problem. As we're told by a VERY irate clergyman in the opening scene, "She was not Christian!" --therefore, highly unlikely she was married in a church (unless it was some kind of church belonging to whatever religion she might have belonged to... perhaps a Priest Of Karnak performed the rite?).
shareLigeia may have started out as Christian, practicing or nominal, and married in a church. She may not have become "not Christian" until later. Who knows?
shareThe current marriage license in my state asks for the disposition of any previous marriage and the date that it happened. It doesn't require you to append proof of that disposition. I don't know what the UK laws would have been in the era in which Tomb of Ligeia is set, but perhaps things were the same. Vincent Price's character just told the clerk or priest that he was a widower and no proof was required. If the church we see the couple exit in the film was local, perhaps all the officials already would have known he was a widower.
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