Adventure and Romance Theme of “Conflict”

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 22, 27 January 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

Adventure and Romance Theme of “Conflict”

JOHN WAYNE, JEAN ROGERS CO-STARRED (Kosy: Screening Saturday). Replete with high adventure and last action, Universal’s “Conflict,'' starring John Wayne and featuring lovely Jean Rogers in the feminin® lead, based on the Jack London novel, “The Abysmal Brute,” is ft robust and roaring story of two brawny battlers who settle their own differences and at the same time end a bitter feud between two great lumber camps.

“Conflict" tells the story of a farmer boy (John Wayne) who becomes embroiled with Knockout Carrigan (Ward Bond) when the pugilist comes to the little town of Springfield, California, offering to pay any man 1000 dollars if he can stay in the ring with him for four rounds. Carrigan runs a betting syndicate and his fights are faked. When he knocks out Pat in a fight on which a number of townspeople have bet money, Maude Sangster (Jean Rogers) :s sent by a San Francisco newspaper to investigate the racket. Pat moves on to a lumber camp at Cedar City, where he meets Maude and rescues an 11-year-old orphan boy from drowning. Tommy - Tommy Hupp), the lad he saved, is adopted by Pat, and the boy grows to adore the brawny, two-fisted lumberman. Maude falls in love with Pat.

Wneu a bitter feud between two lumber camps develops, Pat is asked to fight Carrigan, to settle the fierce quarrel. From this point on, “Conflict" swirls to a stirring climax as Pat knocks out Carrigan, wins Maud and is acclaimed , a hero by the lumberjacks. Wayne’s performance is excellent. Jean Rogers combines acting ability with her natural charm. The flaxen-haired girl is easily one or the best looking actresses on the screen. Others in the cast who give highly gratifying performances are Eddie Borden, Tommy Bupp, Frank Sheridan, Ward Bond, Margaret Mann, Bryant Washburn and Frank Hagney.

Walter Gatlet who recently completed a featured role in * ‘Banjo On My Knee" the 20th Century-Fox production starring Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck, has been assigned an important role in. “On the Avenue" the musical extravaganza being produced by the same studio from an original story and score by Irving Berlin. Dick Powell, Alice Faye and Madeleine Carroll head the cast.

Midnight, the horse Gary Cooper rides in Cecil B. DeMille's Paramount production, “Tho Plainsman," is the same one he rode a few years ago in his last previous Western epic, * ‘The .Virginian."