The Man in the Net

Director: Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz

Overview

This undistinguished murder muddle by director Michael Curtis involves an artist and his alcoholic psychologically disturbed wife -- who disappears one day. John Hamilton (Alan Ladd) has retreated to the New England countryside to pursue a potential career as an artist, but his wife Linda (Carolyn Jones) wants to go back to New York. She is observed as being both drunk and a little strange, while John is clearly the anchor in the relationship. When Linda disappears, John is immediately suspected of doing away with his troublesome wife, and so a net of suspicion and circumstantial evidence closes in ever-tightening circles around him.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/06/2011
UPC:	0883904243472
Original Release:	1959
Source:	Mgm Mod
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	1:37:00
Sales rank:	49,231

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Alan Ladd	John Hamilton
Carolyn Jones	Linda Hamilton
Diane Brewster	Vickie Carey
John Lupton	Brad Carey
Charles McGraw	Steve Ritter
Tom Helmore	Gordon Moreland
Betty Lou Holland	Roz Moreland
John Alexander	Mr. Carey
Edward Binns	Capt. Green
Kathryn Givney	Mrs. Carey
Barbara Beaird	Emily Jones
Susan Gordon	Angel Jones
Charles Herbert	Timmie Moreland
Michael McGreevey	Buck Ritter
Stephen Perry	Leroy
Alvin Childress	Alonzo
Douglas Evans	Charlie Raines
Natalie Masterson	Mrs. Jones
Patrick Miller	State Trooper
Bill Cassidy	State Trooper
H.J. Salter	Composer

Technical Credits

Reginald Rose

Michael Curtiz	Director
Reginald Rose	Screenwriter
Walter Mirisch	Producer
Alan Ladd	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

A rather disappointing mystery thriller, The Man in the Net should be more appreciated by fans of little-known examples of this genre than by the general public. Net is not bad, mind you, but it is rather too far-fetched. All of its plot pieces fit together, but only because the writer decides they should, not because they fit together logically in a real world setting. The characters feel contrived, and the use of children becomes a bit cloying. Michael Curtiz's direction is surprisingly weak, given his usual skill and talent; a stronger hand could have at least papered over some of the weak spots. Alan Ladd's underplayed performance is a bit monotonous, and his stoical approach comes off as unrealistic in all the circumstances. He's somewhat hamstrung by the part, which requires this approach, but he goes too far; his John Hamilton is so reserved as to be unconvincing. Carolyn Jones does much better, having been given an outsized character to play and playing her to the hilt. Those interested in social history will find the film's portrayal of rural Connecticut fascinating, as in both setting and attitude of its characters it seems to resemble a stereotypical backwater southern town (although whether the depiction in either case is historically valid could be questioned).

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler