CONFLICT is Aptly Named

CONFLICT (Blu-ray)

1945 / 86 min

WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION

Available at www.MovieZyng.com

Review by Mr. Paws😺

Almost the entire success of 1945’s Conflict rests on Humphrey Bogart’s shoulders. Fortunately, he’s more than up to the challenge, turning in a brilliant performance as wife killer Richard Mason. While he’s always been great at playing morally questionable characters, this one doesn’t seem to get as much attention as some of his more iconic roles. 

Richard and wife Rose (Rose Hobart) have been married for five years, but as the opening scene demonstrates, they aren’t all that happy. An argument ends with him admitting he’s fallen in love with her younger sister, Evelyn (Alexis Smith). Rose doesn’t appear hurt, though, contemptuously belittling Richard for thinking Evelyn would be interested in a man his age. She also refuses to step aside. Still, they maintain a facade around family and friends, who think they’re the perfect couple.

Following a car crash that leaves him temporarily injured, Richard comes up with an elaborate plan to murder Rose, which goes off without a hitch. He reports her as missing, perfectly playing the role of a concerned husband while getting support from their family friend, Dr. Mark Hamilton (Sydney Greenstreet), and more significantly, Evelyn. 

Bogey tries out his new elevator shoes.

Meanwhile, personal belongings that Rose had when she was murdered start turning up (in the house, in a pawn shop), which Richard dutifully reports to police. In fact, he remains personally active in the ongoing investigation, insisting that whoever killed Rose is leaving these things for him to find.

Here’s where things get interesting, because at this point, we aren’t quite sure what’s going on in Richard’s head. Is he convincingly playing the role of a loving husband to avoid becoming a suspect? Has he blocked the entire crime from his memory and truly thinks someone else killed her? Are these occurrences (including mysterious phone calls and ‘seeing’ Evelyn on the street) a manifestation of his guilt? At various points, the viewer entertains all of these notions, mainly due to the remarkable complexity Bogart brings to his role, certainly reflecting the film’s title.

Only at the end does Conflict drop the ball, with an implausible and underwhelming climax that nearly sabotages the story. Until then, however, this is an entertaining psychological thriller, anchored by a terrific and underappreciated performance by Humphrey Bogart.

EXTRA KIBBLES

2 LOONEY TUNES SHORTS - Life with Feathers; Trap Happy Porky.

2 WARNER BROS SHORTS - Peeks at Hollywood; Are Animals Actors?

CONFLICT RADIO BROADCAST - From 1945, featuring Humphrey Bogart.