Another Robert Conrad Film

In this article, we cover Robert Conrad’s supporting roles. Appearances that are perhaps too brief to have their own article. While there are others to discuss, today we’ll look at Wrong is Right (1982), Jingle All the Way (1996) and Moving Violation (1985).
In Wrong is Right, Conrad plays General Wombat, a UFO seeing drunk. The film is a satire on Middle Eastern politics post-Iranian revolution. Like Ishtar (1987), the humour in this film rarely works. It never gets dark enough, and the entire middle felt like a drag. Many of the minor characters, including Wombat, are underused. But it was fun watching him in a big film playing a slightly different kind of role. He is given enough to show off his comic skill, but not enough material to be a scene stealer. Overall, an okay film with a few good moments.

Moving Violation is a cross between the Cannonball Run (1981) and the boner comedies of the 1980s. Famously, Conrad was uncredited in the film as the chief of the traffic police. His appearance, which consists of three scenes, being likened to Robert DeNiro in Brazil (1985). Like Wrong is Right, Conrad does demonstrate some comic skill but isn’t really given much to work with. There is one funny scene where the films antagonist, Deputy Henry ‘Hank’ Halik (James Keach), smashes a car only to discover it is owned by his boss Chief Robert A. Fromm (Conrad).

Finally, perhaps Conrad’s best remembered supporting role, Jingle All the Way. With this film, he is given a lot more to work with. Playing Officer Hummell, the traffic cop who is continually the victim of Arnie. Throughout the film his motorbike is damaged, he is blown up, and runs into a bus. When Hummell discovers Howard is Turbo Man, the horror on his face is perfect. Overall, this is certainly his best supporting role in a theatrically realised film. Had Conrad taken the role of the President in the awful Wild Wild West remake, maybe that too would have appeared on this list. But as legend suggests, Conrad read the script and told the producers it was complete crap.

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