Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse. Spoilers will be included in this review.
Conflict is a 1945 noir mystry thriller that stars Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, and Sydney Greenstreet. It was directed by Curtis Bernhardt, and follows the story of an engineer trapped in an unhappy marriage who murders his wife in the hope of marrying her younger sister, only to discover that his wife may not be dead.
Under The Lens: Psychology, forgotten trope
Psychology: Conflict (1945), presents the viewer with not only an engaging mystery but also delves into the psychology of a murderer and the stress of a crime. Our villain is not presented as being deranged or sociopathic but is as the character of Dr. Hamilton says a narcissistic. The basis of the film is the idea that once someone commits a crime that crime will eat away at them, as they worry about every little detail of their story (Indeed the villain’s plot unravels as he forgot something that proves to be vital).
Psychology was very popular in the 40s as it was still somewhat new and exciting, indeed this picture showcases the hero as a Psychologist who uses his insight into human nature to catch our villain. It was very interesting seeing an older view of psychology and how it was seen all those years ago.
Forgotten Trope: Motion Picture tropes are nothing new and have been around for as long as films have been shot. One interesting trope that was seen very often in the 30s, 40s, and 50s was a change-up of the normal character placements. This particular trope saw the villain as the lead character, with the hero and the love interest playing supporting roles (See Dial M For Murder as another example of this).
I particularly like this as it reverses the normal motion picture plot that sees a detective or hero putting together the clues and catching the villain. In the reverse that we see here in Conflict (1945) the majority of the plot focuses on the villain covering his tracks, and we only get hints of the hero’s plans, in fact, the hero’s plot to catch the villain is not revealed till right at the end when the threads of the story are all pulled tight. It’s a fun little subversion that is not seen in that many motion pictures anymore.
Highlights
The picture leans into its noir style, with LOTS of deep shadows, dark settings, and a general feeling of foreboding.
The plot is a straightforward “Get away with murder” story but takes a turn in a spooky direction that makes you wonder if it is in fact a ghost story.
The first act has some decent special effects that elevate the picture above some of the other pictures in this genre.
Quotable Quote
Evelyn Turner: Is your heart in a cage, Professor Holsworth?
Something to think about
Do you agree with Dr. Hamilton who says that a single thought can lead to a person’s destruction?
Conclusion
Overall Conflict (1945) is a mostly forgotten noir thriller, and while it is not one of the best of its genre, it does manage to tell a riveting tale of murder, psychology, and the unraveling of a man. Anchored by the strong chemistry of Bogart and Greenstreet, good direction, and a brisk pace, Conflict is a picture worth revisiting, on a stormy night with a bowl of popcorn and a cup of coffee.
