Professor Marston & the Wonder Women 2017

The narrative unfolds through a series of flashbacks during a pivotal testimony given by William Moulton Marston in 1945, before members of the Child Study Association of America. The story transports us back to 1928, where William and his wife, Elizabeth, engage in academic pursuits and research at Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. Amidst this intellectual environment, William employs one of his students, Olive Byrne, as a research assistant. With her help, they delve deep into the invention of the lie detector and further explore William’s DISC theory. As they collaborate closely, a deep emotional connection develops among the trio.

Tests administered by the lie detector expose a powerful truth: they have all fallen in love with one another, leading to the beginning of a captivating polyamorous relationship.

However, when news of their unconventional love story begins to surface, both William and Elizabeth find themselves dismissed from their posts at the university. Shortly after, Olive announces her pregnancy and moves in with the Marstons, leading them to forge a unique family unit and construct a narrative to shield the true nature of their bond from the outside world. They settle into a quaint suburban life in New York, finding joy in their unconventional family dynamics. By 1934, both Elizabeth and Olive each give birth to William’s children—Olive has two sons while Elizabeth welcomes a son and daughter, fabricating a story to explain Olive’s presence as that of a widow taken in by the Marstons.

While William aspires to become a successful author, Elizabeth transitions into the primary breadwinner as a secretary, while Olive dedicates her time to raising the children and occasionally submitting her writing for publication. Together, they nurture their four children, with Elizabeth choosing to name her daughter after Olive.

In 1940, William discovers a lingerie shop in New York City owned by Charles Guyette, who introduces him to fetish art and comic-themed photographs that ignite his imagination and relate to his DISC theory work. Despite Elizabeth’s initial disapproval, she is persuaded during a presentation where Olive models an outfit that will ultimately become the prototype for Wonder Woman’s iconic costume.

Struggling to find consistent writing work, Marston hatches the brilliant idea of crafting a female Amazonian superheroine for a comic book, embodying his DISC theory ideals and inspired heavily by the significant women in his life. He presents this groundbreaking concept to publisher Max Gaines, who embraces it and suggests the superhero’s name be simplified to “Wonder Woman.” The comic achieves instant success, ushering prosperity into the Marston-Byrne household. However, the revelation of their unique living situation comes to light when a neighbor inadvertently stumbles upon their intimacy, resulting in bullying for their children and prompting the school to expel them. Prompted by fear for their children’s safety and social standing, Elizabeth reluctantly insists that Olive and her children leave their home.

As Wonder Woman faces scrutiny for allegedly containing sexual, sadomasochistic, and lesbian nuances, William’s testimony becomes crucial to the unfolding events. After the hearing, William suffers a collapse and is later diagnosed with terminal cancer, which pushes him to seek reconciliation with Olive and Elizabeth. In a poignant moment, William urges Elizabeth to embrace a more equitable role in their partnership. The Marstons humble themselves, pleading for Olive’s forgiveness, while Elizabeth, through tears, confesses her inability to thrive without Olive’s presence in their lives. Ultimately, she consents to reunite with them.

In a touching epilogue, we learn that William passed away in 1947, but his legacy continued with Elizabeth and Olive cohabitating as partners for an impressive 43 years, until Olive’s death in 1990. Elizabeth lived to the remarkable age of 100. The aftermath revealed that the sexual imagery prevalent in Wonder Woman comics diminished following William’s death, alongside her superpowers. In 1972, feminist icon Gloria Steinem triumphantly revived Wonder Woman by featuring her on the cover of Ms. Magazine, ultimately restoring her superhuman abilities.