Conflict, a 1945 film noir starring Humphrey Bogart, is available to bring home on Blu-ray by way of the Warner Archive Collection.

The film, which keeps audiences guessing up until the very end, is rather brisk at 86 minutes. It’s not too long nor is it too short. The film sets out what it wants to do and gets its story accomplished in under an hour and a half. Why can’t more films be like Conflict? We’re living in an era where filmmakers are obsessed with the nearly 3-hour film, if not making them over three hours. Some of the best masterpieces in the world run under 2 hours.

Richard Mason (Humphrey Bogart) is married to Katherine Mason (Rose Hobart). The two celebrate their five-year anniversary at Dr. Mark Hamilton’s (Sydney Greenstreet) home but Richard is no longer in love with Katherine. He’s fallen in love with her sister, Evelyn Turner (Alexis Smith). Richard decides to do the only thing he can: kill Katherine. Of course, he also makes sure to leave zero evidence of his involvement. Within a matter of days, Richard receives an envelope with Katherine’s handwriting. The contents? A pawn shop ticket, where he finds Katherine’s locket. He begins wondering of Katherine is even dead. Before you know it, he thinks Katherine is alive. Perhaps someone is trying to force his conscience to come clean? Everything leads Richard back to the scene of the crime. The Production Code rules mean that Richard will not have a happy ending.

Humphrey Bogart and Sydney Greenstreet acted in five films together. Interestingly enough, this is the only film in which Bogart is not playing a hero. As I mentioned earlier, he’s an outright villain. The actor is certainly perfect for the film noir genre but it’s a strange decision by the studio to cast him in this particular role rather than have him play a hero. I mean, here’s an actor coming off of Casablanca! He certainly could have his pick at doing anything. Maybe that’s why the actor initially decided against taking part in the film?

Obviously, studios treated their films like an assembly line during this era. For many actors, they have no choice but to work on a film or take a suspension. In this case, Jack L. Warner threatened production of the Michael Curtiz-directed Passage to Marseille. Throw in a rights dispute and Conflict would see a release until two years after production. Strangely enough, a rights delay would lead Bogart and Smith to reunite in a similar film.

Behind the camera, director Curts Bernhardt had fled Germany due to being Jewish. He directs the film in the German Expressionistic style. This particular style also manages to work to his benefit in the film noir genre.

Conflict is not a great Bogart film by any means, but he still turns in a fine performance in this film noir.

Bonus Features

• Classic 1945 WB Cartoons:
  • Life with Feathers (HD)
  • Trap Happy Porky (HD)
• WB 1945 Shorts:
  • Peeks at Hollywood (HD)
  • Are Animals Actors? (HD)
• Audio-only Conflict radio broadcast (9/11/1945) starring Humphrey Bogart
• Original Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR: Curtis Bernhardt
SCREENWRITERS: Arthur T. Horman and Dwight Taylor
CAST: Humphrey Bogart, Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet, with Rose Hobart, Charles Drake, Grant Mitchell, Pat O’Moore, Ann Shoemaker

Warner Bros. released Conflict in theaters on June 15, 1945. Grade: 3.5/5

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