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Download, Watch online Conflict Movie.
| Genres: | ThrillerFilm-N |
| Starring: | Humphrey Bogart, Charles Drake, Rose Hobart, Alexis Smith, Grant Mitchell, Sydney Greenstreet, Patrick O'Moore |
| Director(s): | Curtis Bernhardt |
| Country: | USA |
| Year: | 1945 |
| IMDB Rating: | 7 |
Richard Mason is slightly injured in a car accident but pretends greater hurt so that he cannot accompany his wife Kathryn on a trip to the mountains. He does, however, kill her on a lonely mountain road. Or did he? He smells her perfume, finds her jewelry, sees an envelope addressed with her handwriting. He must go back to the scene of the crime to find ... what?
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Conflict (iPod) | Resolution: 480x368 px | Total Size: 318 Mb |
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Conflict (DivX) | Resolution: 576x432 px | Total Size: 700 Mb |
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Movie Photos: We have taken some photos of "Conflict". They represent actual movie quality.
Visitor Reviews: (20)
15 May 2012
My Favorite Bogart Movie
I simply can't believe that all previous reviewers only give 3 or 4 stars for "Conflict". It's such a thrilling and brilliant movie, at least as good as "Dark Passage", my other favorite Bogart film. And after having watched more than 95% of all Bogart movies, I seriously think that "Conflict" and "Dark Passage" are a lot better than "The Big Sleep" or "The Maltese Falcon" even though those are considered his best, but I still prefer Conflict & Dark Passage by far! I just find their plots so much more fascinating.10 stars.For years and years I was wondering why "Conflict" (and another film noir with Brian Donlevy called "Nightmare" (1942)) are not available on DVD and also are never on TCM. So I finally bought both of them at ioffer.com and I'm happy to have them now at home. It's such a shame that only one third (and not necessarily the best third!) from all old movies ever produced is available on DVD's.
15 May 2012
good movie
I am watching this movie right now on AMC. It is just like it is described in the write up's. It is a good movie & Bogie is great as always.
15 May 2012
slow moving but Bogart carries the film
this is really just a remake of GASLIGHT with sidney greenstreet driving rich man Bogart into confessing his crime of murder. slow moving by today's standard. Bogart argued with Jack Warner for release from making this film but was threaten with suspension. The flim never sparkles with life.
sol 14 May 2012
You shouldn't have said that Dick.. Even if you meant it.
**SPOILERS** Big time architect Dick Mason, Humphrey Bogart, had beenhaving he eye on his old lady's kid sister Evelyn Turner, Alexis Smith,ever since before he married the old bag, who's 14 years older the Eve,but just couldn't bring himself to make a play for her. It's Dick'swife Katherine, Rose Hobart, women's intuition that has her realize herhusbands feeling about her sister that cause a great amount of tensionbetween, in public, the loving couple. Dick finally gets his chance toput an end to his very unhappy marriage after he was involved in a carsmash up, by looking at Evelyn in the rear view mirror instead of theroad, that left him wheel chair bound with his passengers Evelyn andKatherine totally unhurt. Laid up at his house Dick with his mindworking overtime, but not on his job as an architect, concocts thisplan to get rid of his overbearing and nagging wife once in for all.Making like he can't walk which in fact he could Dick has Katherinetravel out to her, as well as his, favorite mountain resort-MountainSprings-telling her he'll meet her there later in the afternoon whenhis butler will give him a lift out there. Getting to Mountain Springsbefore Katherine Dick murders the startled woman, who never suspectedto see him there so soon, and dumps her and her car down a steep cliffwhere they gets crushed and buried by a sh*t load of fallen timber.With Dick thinking that he committed the perfect crime he now driveshome and plans to get it on with Evelyn after the mourning period forKatherine is over; Or so he thought!As things turn out in the movie Katherine instead of being killedsomehow seemed to have survived her, in what Dick wanted everyone tothink, tragic accident! Everywhere he goes, in the city or around thehouse, Dick sees things that Katherine had on her, when she wasmurdered by him, suddenly and unexpectedly pop up. It's as if shedeliberately left them here to screw up his already very confused andguilt-ridden mind. Even Dick's attempt to get romantically involved with Evelyn quicklyfalls apart in her sensing that he's not exactly playing with a fulldeck in his confusion in if his wife Katherine is still alive makinghim, if he ever marries Evelyn, a bigamist as well as a possiblemurderer! The final shoe to drop, on Dick's head, is when Evelynrealizing what a triple "A" nut-case he is and drops him for herboyfriend Professor Norman Holdsworth, Charles Drake, who's as nutsabout her as Dick is. The difference is that Norman didn't have tomurder or try to murder her sister in order to get Evelyn to fall inlove and marry him!The man who had Dick's number right from the start, as shown at thevery beginning of the movie, was non-other the legendary "Fat Man"-of"Maltese Faclon" fame-himself Sidney Greenstreet playing the part ofpsychoanalyst Dr. Mark Hamilton. It was Mark who in studying Dick'sbizarre behavior while his wife Katherine was both alive and latermissing soon came to the conclusion that he beside being slightlymentally unbalanced was also capable of murder as well! *** MAJORSPOILER**** But it was the gift of a rose that Mark, an armaturebotanist, gave to Katherine just before her fateful trip that tippedhim off to what that devious husband of her's Dick was really up to.That's when Dick not really knowing the significance of what that rosemeant, in his wife's disappearance, finally after covering all thebases ended tripping himself up!
leonard-1 11 May 2012
A moody film that invites speculation by the viewer
Every time I find myself driving on a lonely, densely wooded mountain roadwith precipitous drops just past the shoulder, I am reminded of the 1945movie `Conflict', a film that I view every year or so. When I recentlydiscovered that the story behind `Conflict' was named `The Pentacle',credited to Alfred Neumann and Robert Siodmak, I viewed `Conflict' again inorder to determine the relationship between the film and the word`pentacle'. A `pentacle' is roughly defined as `a five-pointed starenclosed within a regular pentagon, and enclosing a smaller regularpentagon'. The pentacle is a favored symbol among devotees of the occult,but `Conflict' is not a movie about the occult. The pentacle symbol appearsin `Conflict' as a visual motif, nagging the engineer Mason (HumphreyBogart) with memories of his terrible deed. The first appearance in thefilm of a clearly identifiable pentacle is a technical drawing depicting afive-sided bridge foundation to be used in shale by Mason's constructioncompany. Mason's imagination dreamily relates this drawing to a big pile oflogs hiding the wreckage of an automobile in a mountain valley, the resultof his grim obsession. Perhaps a `pentacle' of imaginary lines of mentalforce can be imagined by the movie's viewer as the engineer Mason (HumphreyBogart) appears in the center of a tense human pentacle, the five verticesof which are the psychiatrist (Sydney Greenstreet), Mason's wife (RoseHobart), the sister-in-law (Alexis Smith), the suitor (Charles Drake), and,finally, the police detectives. Changing the subject slightly, the tersedialog in `Conflict' always seemed to me to be very upper class English. Ihave often imagined the movie with a British cast of the period, with Masonperhaps played by Dirk Bogarde or Trevor Howard instead of Humphrey Bogart,the psychiatrist by Nigel Bruce instead of Sidney Greenstreet, and thepolice authorities cast as aloof Scotland Yard detectives instead offriendly American cops. However, the actual cast did just fine, in myopinion, with the result that I, for one, am an unreserved fan of`Conflict'!
David 10 May 2012
Predictable
When this shows up, I watch it, never seeming to remember that I'vealready seen it. It's very predictable. It's implausible. It'sforgettable.The cast is good. I always get a kick out of Sydney Greenstreet.Humphrey Bogart was a good actor, though I am not a slavish worshiperby any means. Alexis Smith does OK, as she always did. And Rose Hobartis an excellent, cold villain as the wife who -- well, I won't give itaway.She is too unpleasant. Why would the two of them still be married? Sheis an incessant nag and a scold, with never a kind word to say.And once we learn that Greenstreet is a psychiatrist -- it's prettyeasy to write the basic plot outline oneself.
05 May 2012
Classy crime thriller that really keeps you guessing
"Conflict", starring the always excellent Humphrey Bogart is often dismissed as minor league noir and a fairly ordinary entry in Bogart's sterling collection of film performances. On the contrary I've always found it terrific entertainment that really keeps you guessing and asking questions right up to the final frame. It is a most handsome production with all of Warner Bros. expertise on show in the overall look and feel of the piece and in the excellent performances by the male and female cast members in this story of murder, deceit and mystery.The film begins with the fifth wedding anniversary for affluent married couple engineer Richard Mason and his wife Katherine (Humphrey Bogart and Rose Habart). To the outside world they appear to be the perfect married couple with everything in life, however in reality Richard is most unhappy with his critical demanding wife and is secretly in love with her alluring younger sister Evelyn (Alexis Smith),who also has strong feelings for Richard. Resulting from a car accident the night of the party where Richard breaks a leg but from which Katherine walks away without a scratch, Richard has time to consider his unsatisfying marital situation and hatches an elaborate plan to do away with his shrewish wife and replace her with her younger sister. Pretending to be confined to a wheelchair when in actual fact he is now able to walk with the aid of a cane, Richard executes a supposedly fool proof murder plan. He pretends to plan a trip away with Katherine to a remote mountain resort and at the last minute on the pretext of work has her go on ahead. He then drives via a shorter route to a mountain pass and there waits for and then murders Katherine, pushing her car over the side of the mountain. He then quickly returns home and resumes the role of the chair bound invalid. What was supposedly the perfect crime soon becomes a living nightmare as strange things begin to happen that seem to indicate that perhaps Katherine is not dead at all. Her perfume is smelt in the house, jewelry she wore the night of the murder begins to turn up, a pawn ticket signed by Katherine is mailed to him and Richard thinks he sees Katherine walking in the street and then disappearing without trace into a strange house. Richard begins to question his sanity and eventualy his uncertainity about whether his murder plan was successful drives him back to the scene of the crime where all is revealed and the truth comes out! Directed with suitable flair by veteran director Curtis Bernhardt and based on a short story by Robert Siodmak and Alfred Neumann, "Conflict", is a riverting little murder mystery that benefits greatly from the writing and four lead performances. Bogart is excellent as Richard Mason in a rather unlikeable role and is particulary good in the scenes where he sets up the deception and where the strange return of his wife seemingly from the grave begins to unhinge his tortured guilt ridden mind. This film reunites him with his "Maltese Falcon" costar the superb Sydney Greenstreet in a great performance as family friend Dr. Mark Hamilton who is the one who discovers the clue as to what actually happened on the night of the murder. Rose Hobart in a rare 1940's role is excellent in the small but telling part of murder victim Katherine Mason who might or might not be dead. Her's is not a likeable character and her few scenes with Bogart reveal her as a grating and demanding person responsible for always belittling Richard while of course still not deserving the fate she endures. Alexis Smith provides her usual glamourous presence to the role of Evelyn Turner, Katherine's younger sister who finds herself embroiled in the family complications. But as always in his films Bogart is the life and soul of the production. Menacing while showing a certain vulnerability and uneasiness with what he has done, he turns an unlikeable character into someone you do find yourself caring for. That is the sign of a truly great actor. "Conflict", may not be in the top draw of Bogie classics but it is a very enjoyable little murder mystery that stays in the mind long after seeing it. Warners spared no expense in bringing it to the screen and what we have is 80 minutes of terrific entertainment with character work as could only be done with such finesse in Hollywood's golden age. Enjoy the murderous marital goings on in Warner Bros. noir classic "Conflict".
blanche-2 04 May 2012
a little "Gaslight," a little "Two Mrs. Carrolls," a whole lotta Bogie
This is an obvious though very entertaining film with a cast thatincludes the radiant Alexis Smith, Sydney Greenstreet, and of course,the star, Humphrey Bogart at his sinister best. He plays an unhappilymarried man who is in love with his wife's sister (Smith). Greenstreetis a friend of the family.Considering the circumstances of his death, it's always disturbing tosee Humphrey Bogart with cigarettes, and if he's not smoking in this,he's lining them up in his cigarette case.Mystery loving audiences will pick up the all-important clueimmediately. Whether you do or don't, it's hard not to enjoy the moststandard of films with a cast like this. As an added kick, the film hasa psychological feature to it, which started to become all the ragetoward the end of WWII.
calvinnme 01 May 2012
Many call this an unusual Bogart film...
...but it isn't really that unusual if you consider the films Bogartmade after "High Sierra" and he began to get meatier film roles insteadof the one-note gangster roles Warner Brothers often put him into from1936 until 1941. Bogart was quite a versatile actor to put it mildly,and this film showcases yet another side of his talents.Bogart plays Richard Mason, an engineer who is celebrating his fifthwedding anniversary with his wife Kathryn (Rose Hobart). However,Richard and Kathryn have been snapping at each other for the last fewweeks. In a bit of a showdown before attending their anniversary party,Richard admits that he is in love with Kathryn's sister Evelyn, andKathryn admits her short temper has been because she realizes this.Kathryn also states that she would never agree to a divorce. Realizethat Evelyn (Alexis Smith) is innocent in all of this as Richard hasbeen worshiping her from afar.That night, on the way back from their anniversary party, Richard isgazing at Evelyn through the rear view mirror and has an automobileaccident as a result of not paying attention to the road. Evelyn andKathryn are unharmed, but Richard has broken his leg. Richard uses thisinjury, and the fact that no doctor can be sure at what point he'llregain the use of his leg, to come up with a rather clever scheme forkilling his wife. After recovering his mobility, he continues to behaveas though incapacitated. With everyone believing him immobilized by hisinjury, he intercepts his wife's car on a remote mountain road,blocking the road with his own car. He kills his wife and then sendsthe car off a cliff with Kathryn inside. A large group of logs go offthe cliff with the car making a kind of eery formation on top of it andobscuring the wreck. The car does not catch fire.Now all Richard has to do is go back to town undetected, still playingthe cripple, and now playing the worried husband as well when his wifedoes not reach her destination. With Evelyn at his side to providemoral support, his plan is to wait for the alerted state police to findhis wife's car and thus her body. Then he'll be free to court Evelyn.However, there is one snag - the police never find Kathryn's body orher car. On top of that, Kathryn's things that were with her when shedied are showing up one by one - in Richard's desk, in his bedroom, inhis luggage when he goes on a trip. The scent of Kathryn's perfumefills their room one night. He even sees someone who is dressed justlike his wife on the street one day and follows her - she disappearsinto thin air. Whatever is going on here? Was Kathryn unharmed in thissecond accident as well? Is she playing with him? Unlike mostmysteries, this one is not something that needs to be explained to theaudience at the end, although it is. If you watch the film closelyenough you'll figure out exactly what happened before it startshappening - but you have to pay attention. Highly recommended.
jussssst 01 May 2012
Similarities between «Conflict» and Hitchcock's «Vertigo» !
Have you noticed the similarities between, not only «Conflict» and«Vertigo» (1958), but also with «The Two Mrs. Carroll» (1947)? Indeed,in these movies, there is at least one of the following occurrences :1) A husband planning to get rid of his wife. 2) A woman who«mysteriously» disappears after entering a building while beingfollowed by a man. 3) A clue that gives away the guilty person (a rose,a necklace). I'll stop here : if you're familiar with the three moviesmentioned -- or just curious about the «mechanics» of goodsuspense/noir films plotting -- then I'll leave it to you to find moreconnections. You may argue that, since «Vertigo» came after the others,if any «imitation» is to be pointed out, then Hitchcock's film would bethe one to «blame». Perhaps.... Yet, none of the other two come closeto the first part of «V.», in the atmospheric and hypnotic suggestionof a «romantic ghost».
chandler-47 29 April 2012
Excellent Noir
This is a not much known film noir directed by Kurt (Curtis) Bernhardt.Starring Humphrey Bogart as the architect Richard Mason who kills hiswife because he is in love with her sister the movie switches from astraight forward crime story to a mystery when Mason gets letters fromhis wife though he knows she is dead. This is an clever idea but it'svery easy for an experienced crime novel reader to pre-construct themovie after thirty minutes if you listen closely. This is somehow aweakness of the whole movie, nevertheless the interest is still therebecause of the other qualities the movie offers. The screenplay and theediting is fast paced, the dialog is sharp without any paraphrases, theacting is to the point. The plot line offers another question: Is thesister of Richard Mason's wife also in love with him as he thinks sheis? Since we see the movie from his point of view it is very unclear."Conflict" creates a dark atmosphere and we see Mason acting like animmoral person which we also can call existencialistic. He does notquestion his crime, it seems it is just something that had to be done.Nice appearance by Sidney Greenstreet as the psychologist Hamilton.
whpratt1 29 April 2012
Great Classic Film With Great Veteran Actors
No matter what film Humphrey Bogart performed in, you could alwayscount on a great performance and he was a born natural to the silverscreen until smoking was his down fall in 1957. In this film, HumphreyBogart(Richard Mason),"Caine Mutiny",'54, plays an entirely differentrole than he usually performed in and gets himself involved in a caraccident and shares the screen with Alexis Smith,(EvelynTurner),"Rhapsody in Blue",'45 who gives a great supporting role alongwith great Classic Actor, Sydney Greenstreet,(Dr. MarkHamilton),"Flamingo Road,"49, who tries to help Richard Mason come togrips with himself and face some very horrible facts about himself. Ifyou love Bogart and Greeenstreet in a great Classic film, just sit backand ENJOY.
Michael_Elliott 24 April 2012
Underrated Performance by Bogart
Conflict (1945) *** (out of 4) Nice thriller about a husband (Humphrey Bogart) who murders his wifebecause he's in love with her younger sister (Alexis Smith). Thehusband is in a bad car wreck but he fakes how serious his injury is sohe will have an alibi as to why he couldn't be the murderer but soon hestarts seeing his wife and begins to fear he might not have killed her.I was pleasantly surprised to see how good this picture was even thoughsome stronger direction would have helped matters. While watching themovie I was entertained every step of the way but at the same time Icouldn't help but wonder what this would have been like with someonelike Hitchcock behind the camera. What works best are the performanceswith Bogart leading the way and doing a very fine job in the role ofthe husband who slowly begins to crack once he realizes he might nothave done a very good job in terms of his murder plot. Bogart managesto play the character's nerves quite well and makes the role verybelievable. Smith was also very good in her role bringing a certaintype of innocence that really makes her register with the viewer. Heown scenes of doubt over whether she should be falling for her sister'shusband were well done. Sydney Greenstreet plays thefriend/psychologist who tries to keep Bogart calm throughout thematter. Greenstreet's calm, nurturing voice certainly makes him perfectfor the character. The screenplay also works very well as we're giventwo different mysteries to keep in our mind. The first being whether ornot the wife is actually dead or is something more supernatural goingon. The second is, if she's dead, will Bogie get away with it. Thisfilm really has a lot of elements of a horror film or at least the ValLewton productions that were being made around this time. This film isquite dark and really fits into that genre so fans of the Lewton filmswill certainly want to check this out.
mgrindberg 24 April 2012
impact of conflict
This is one of Bogart's best movies. He could go either to hard bittenprivate detective Sam Spade or to paranoid types like the role he playsin this movie or what he did in Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Like mostHollywood movies, murder seems a bit unrealistic given the charactersas they are written out and portrayed. But get by the murder and thecontrived plot that follows, Bogart still is nothing less thanfantastic in this movie. Alexis Smith's part as his wife's youngersister is another reason not to throw this film in as a minor andforgettable Bogart effort. Leave it to a director like CurtisBernhardt, a guy who was known for making "women"s films to make a filmthat explores so well a man's infatuation and insecurity.
OldAle1 22 April 2012
Minor noir enlivened by terrific cast with Bogie and Greenstreet tops
Bogie is the star here, as Richard Mason, an architect in anoutwardly-seeming fine marriage to Kathryn (Rose Hobart), but who isreally in love with her younger sister Evelyn (Alexis Smith). Thecouple have a close friend, a psychology professor (Sydney Greenstreet)who gushes about how happy they are at an anniversary party, and thisonly makes things worse, especially as Evelyn is present. On the wayhome from the party, Richard crashes the car. The two women are safebut he injures his leg. While recuperating, he hatches a plot to doaway with Kathryn so that he can have Evelyn - despite no evidence thatshe loves him. He manages to get her killed in another auto accident,but soon finds evidence that she may still be around.Mason's deteriorating state, and the odd occurrences -- in particular agreat sequence in which he follows the apparent ghost or still-livingKathryn from a distance into an empty house -- are the best part of thefilm, and so I was disappointed that the ending was so abrupt and thespookiness brushed off as deliberate ploys on the part of Greenstreetand the cops, who know that he's guilty but just can't prove it. Bogartand Greenstreet are solid, and I liked the rather artificial sets whichgave it an "anytown" feel -- something that was lost with the locationshooting that tends to dominate later noir -- but overall this isfairly minor.
Bucs1960 22 April 2012
Bogart and Greenstreet...You Can't Beat 'Em
This may not be one of Bogart's best, in fact not even close to hisbest....but his pairing with Sidney Greenstreet makes it worth watching. There is something magical about the manner in which these two actors meshthat is seldom seen in film. Bogart is Bogart, always the tight lipped heroor villain with the clipped speech and slight chip on his shoulder.Greenstreet is the jolly fat man who hides behind that facade, either evilor cunning or both. Two actors with different personas which play perfectlyagainst each other. They are seldom on the same side and althoughinitially, in this film, they appear to be, the tables turn as the filmprogresses. The story is not a new one....man kills wife...or so hethinks....is she dead or isn't she? The ending is fairly predictable but itstill holds your interest. Alexis Smith, as the target of Bogart'saffections, is tall, coldly beautiful and rather detached....she does notseem vulnerable enough and can't seem to make up her mind about her feelingsfor Bogart's character. Watch this film for the exchanges between Bogart andGreenstreet...that's what it is all about. They make the rest of itworthwhile.
19 April 2012
A Psychological Thriller
Again, Bogie plays a psycho, or so we think he is, he does a great job ofcovering it up, or blaming it on his sweetheart, or his wife, I forgot;haven't seen this for several months now, but it has that surpriseending;not what one would suspect!
19 April 2012
A Guilty Conscience
Humphrey Bogart stars as an engineer who has fallen in love with the younger sister of his shrewish wife. Having recovered from a car accident faster than anyone suspects (his wife didn't receive a scratch), the seemingly incapacitated engineer kills his wife on a mountain road while everyone else thinks he's home in a wheelchair. But funny thing is, he starts finding clues that she might not be dead, despite the obvious evidence. Tricks of a guilty mind, or something else ...? Hmmmm. Bogart is pretty good as the wife killer, or at least good enough that you almost feel sorry for him. Alexis Smith is alright as the younger sister, while Rose Hobart is appropriately grating as the late(?) wife. The formidable Sydney Greenstreet is fun as the family friend/psychiatrist. The idea behind the story is a good one, although it is highly improbable. But the dialogue isn't nearly as sharp as it could have been and the characters played by Bogart, Smith, and Hobart aren't likeable or developed enough to be interesting. It's a good premise with a satisfactory climax, but it could have been better.
17 April 2012
GREAT FILM NOIR!
This review is from: Conflict (1945) (DVD) Whoever wrote the script to this movie did a fantastic job.The twist and turns to this plot keeps you on the edge of your seat.I also like the way this movie was shot with a lot of shadows in the back ground.Very dark and sinister movie.
16 April 2012
Engaging Psychological Murder Mystery
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS***I like to call some movies (such as "Mirage"), "A Hitchcock movie not madeby Hitchcock." "Conflict" reminds me more of one of his hour-long TVshows,although more intricate and finely wrought. It is done with the samesardonic approach to the horrors that result from entanglement inmurder.Richard (Humphrey Bogart) and Katherine (Rose Hobart) have the perfectmarriage. At least, that's what all their friends think, includingskeptical Freudian psychologist Dr. Mark Hamilton (Sydney Greenstreet),whotells Katherine he is amazed -- that five years ago, when they married, hewouldn't have given it the slightest chance.But the story opens with Katherine accusing Richard of having fallen inlovewith her younger sister, Evelyn (Alexis Smith). He denies it, butKatherinehas sensed the truth. She says she will never give Richard a divorce, andthat Evelyn would laugh at him if she knew how he felt.At their fifth anniversary party that night, Richard moons over Evelynlikea lovesick puppy. On their way home, Evelyn's announcement of herincipientdeparture causes Richard such emotional turmoil that he runs the car intosomething (we never see what). He awakes in the hospital, and his firstwords are, "How is Evelyn?" Only later does he ask about Katherine, anddoesn't seem too happy to hear that she has escaped without ascratch.Richard tries to make it up with Katherine, but she withers him with,"It'sfunny how virtuous a man can be when he's helpless." He uses the factthathis is bound to a wheel chair as the mechanism to enact a plan that he hasobviously made, although we don't see him making it. He pretends he can'twalk, even though he has recovered. He puts on a convincing show for thedoctor, who tells him that his problem is mental now rather thanphysical.Richard sets up a vacation at their lonely mountain cabin, ostensibly toaidin his recovery. At the last minute, he fakes a business emergency andtells Katherine to go to the cabin without him; he'll meet her there thenext day. He drives ahead, intercepts her on a lonely, fog-bound mountaintrack, and kills her.Dr. Mark, who has been a sort of second father to Katherine and Evelyn, issuspicious from the first. Evelyn returns, and Richard is consumed bydesire for her. She submits to his attentions, and agrees to spend sometime with him at the mountain cabin.But things are far from perfect in this hellish paradise Richard hascreatedfor himself. Katherine's possessions keep turning up, as do people whoclaim they have seen a woman dressed exactly like Katherine was on the dayof her death. Richard becomes increasingly convinced that she is stillalive somehow. The uncertainty gnaws at him, and eventually causes him tomake a fatal blunder.Humphrey Bogart presages his role as Captain Queeg in "The Caine Mutiny"here, portraying a madman not as a hair-tearing raver, but in a subtle,understated manner that is much more chilling. (If you like this kind ofcharacter, it was also played masterfully by Robert Mitchum in CharlesLaughton's "Night of the Hunter.")Alexis Smith is utterly fascinating, combining sirenish seductiveness withwholesome, girl-next-door qualities in a way that is rare, and difficulttopull off. It is easy to see why Bogart is so obsessed with her and dumpshis shrewish wife for her.Sydney Greenstreet is at his enigmatic best (although perhaps not quite asgood as in "The Velvet Touch"), warm, jolly and seemingly innocuous on theoutside, but coldly calculating, relentless and almost vicious on theinside.Although the ending of the film is abrupt and a bit weak, the denouementissuperbly brought off by Greenstreet. The acting is strong, and thelead-upto the climax is handled with suspense that will grab your interest andnotlet go.