(1945)
2.5
Craig Butler
Conflict should have been a classic noir-ish thriller, rather than the rather routine one it ended up. It certainly has the right cast and director, and the basic premise is one that could have made for an exceptional film. Unfortunately, the elements just didn't come together in the manner necessary to lift Conflict above the average. The blame rests mostly with director Curtis Bernhardt and his trio of writers. All of them seem to have had a vision of where the film should go and what it should be like, but they couldn't find the right path to achieving that vision; as a result, we're left with a film that is all bones, but lacking in flesh. Bernhardt, often a very good director, also seems to have checked his imagination at the door here; his work is solid and gets the job done, but for the most part lacks the flair that this kind of project needs. (Even the title is perfunctory and colorless.) Fortunately, Conflict has Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet, who turn in typically dependable performances. In a nice switch, the actors' usual roles are reversed, with Bogart the villain and Greenstreet the metaphoric detective. This makes both portrayals a bit more complex than they would otherwise be, with Bogart garnering audience sympathy and Greenstreet's cunning having a slightly wicked edge to it. Both are good in Conflict, but Greenstreet is especially enjoyable. The rest of the cast is fine, although Alexis Smith doesn't make the impression she should, perhaps because her character is ill-defined. Because it could have been so much better, Conflict is a bit frustrating, but still worth seeing.
Conflict on AllMovie
Conflict (1945)
