Underrated Mystery Movie Featuring Humphrey Bogart as the Villain: A Unique Twist on The Maltese Falcon

During the pinnacle of his Hollywood career, Humphrey Bogart took a bold step by portraying the chilling antagonist in Conflict, a film often overlooked by audiences. While Bogart is best remembered for his iconic roles in classics like The Maltese Falcon and Casablanca, his diverse filmography showcases an array of characters from heroic leads to morally ambiguous figures. Surprisingly, he had quite a background in villainous portrayals, having spent significant time in the 1930s enacting portrayals of gangsters in lesser-known films.

By the 1940s, Bogart had solidified his reputation as one of Hollywood’s leading men, particularly with Warner Bros. He starred in iconic films including To Have and Have Not, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The Big Sleep, where he typically played the archetypal hero. However, Conflict presented a unique departure from this pattern, even if it did not achieve widespread box office success.

Humphrey Bogart: A Cold-Blooded Villain in Conflict

Richard Mason Questions His Own Actions

In 1945’s Conflict, Humphrey Bogart takes on an intensely complex role as Richard Mason, a respected architect who wrestles with his emotions. Although he initially appears as a fair-minded individual trapped in an unhappy marriage, Mason develops an obsessive infatuation for his wife’s younger sister, Evelyn Turner, portrayed by Alexis Smith. The situation grows dire when his aspirations for romance lead him to contemplate murder as a solution to remove marital barriers, believing this plight may open the door for a relationship with Evelyn.

At first glance, Mason might seem like a traditional murder mystery villain; his descent into darkness, however, offers layers of psychological intrigue. Although he does not act on his romantic feelings outright, his internal conflict reveals the troubled depths of his character. Rather than adhering strictly to the mold of a villain, Conflict provides a nuanced portrayal of Mason, exploring the psyche behind his drastic decisions.

Conflict: A Highlight in Bogart’s Villainous Portrayals

Psychological Depth and Character Motivation

What elevates Mason from a standard villain to a memorable character is the film’s rich psychological narrative. Instead of a simple portrayal of evil, Conflict delves into the emotional turmoil that fuels his actions. It utilizes the character of Dr. Mark Hamilton, played by Bogart’s frequent collaborator Sydney Greenstreet, who employs his expertise to scrutinize Mason’s motivations. This dynamic adds depth to the storyline, illuminating the character’s gradual transformation through therapeutic dialogue.

The film ultimately establishes Greenstreet’s character as the detective figure who unearths the mystery surrounding Mason’s actions, switching the typical roles seen in previous collaborations with Bogart. By gradually peeling back layers, Conflict casts Bogart’s portrayal of Richard Mason as one of his finest villainous roles, comparable to his performances in The Petrified Forest and The Caine Mutiny.

Conflict: Echoes of The Maltese Falcon

Subtle and Overt References to a Classic

Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade looking suspicious in The Maltese Falcon

A fascinating aspect of Conflict is its intertextual relationship with The Maltese Falcon. A notable parallel lies in the collaboration between Bogart and Greenstreet, whose chemistry is palpable in both films. In The Maltese Falcon, Bogart embodies the protagonist embroiled in a mystery, whereas in Conflict, the roles are intriguingly reversed.

The film even pays homage to its predecessor with a nod via the inclusion of a statue resembling the titular falcon, glimpsed in a police headquarters scene. Moreover, while Conflict does not center around the iconic quest for a valuable artifact, it remains anchored in the murder mystery genre. Here, however, the audience knows the killer’s identity from the outset; the heart of the drama lies in discovering whether the murder actually occurred and the unraveling of the truth surrounding Richard Mason and his wife.

Source & Images